Nanoplastics derived from plastic waste are increasingly accumulating in agricultural farmlands. The absorption and deposition of plastic particles by crops pollute the food supply and pose unanticipated health concerns to human beings. However, the effects of nanoplastics on crop grains cultivated in polluted soil remain relatively unknown.
Study: Evidence and Impacts of Nanoplastic Accumulation on Crop Grains. Image Credit: Photohipster/Shutterstock.com
A recent study published in the journal Advanced Science tackles this problem by investigating the transportation of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in various crops, such as peanuts and rice. This important research also examines the influence of nanoplastics on the productivity and nutritional value of crop grains.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics: Overview and Environmental Concerns
Plastic manufacturing has steadily expanded over the previous 30 years, with annual output exceeding 360 million tons in 2018. Polystyrene (PS), which has a high volatile constituent ratio, has emerged as a prominent and toxic plastic substance.
Large plastic wastes may be split into microplastics (100 nanometers - 5 millimeteres) and subsequently decomposed into nanoplastics (
