Thousands “harmful” small plastic Particle It is possible Get up in vegetable rootsExperts warning.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth found that particles found in the soil could be absorbed Food parts of crops During the growing process.
Nanoplastics were found in a low measuring radish as a million of a centimeter diameter. And for the first time, Experts found that this plastic Can enter through the roots and spread through the plant because they are so small.
Lecturer in physiology, Dr. Nathaniel Clarke said: “plants There is a layer within their roots called a causperian strip, which should act as filters against particles, many of which can be harmful. ,
But he warned that nanoplastic particles may be beyond that barrier and humans can be passed by consuming vegetables.
Dr. Clarke said, “There is no reason to believe that it is unique to this vegetable, with a clear possibility that nanoplastics are being absorbed into a variety of production, which are being grown worldwide.”
In the study published in the journal Environmental Research, Researchers grown radish in a laboratory, which included plastic particles with immersed roots in a solution.
Five days later, he investigated that the plastic particles had penetrated. They found that originally about 5 percent of the particles were originally maintained by the root system in the solution, with millions of nanoplastics entering the crop.
Of those particles, about a quarter had made their way into the food muscular roots, while 10 percent of the leaves were deposited.
Professor Richard Thompson, director of the Marine Institute, said, “To some extent, these findings should not be surprised – after all, we have found microplastic pollution everywhere in our previous work.”
University researchers have studied Microplastics For more than 20 years, showing the presence of plastic particles from the deepest parts of the global ocean to the slopes of Mount Everest.
This has identified some main sources of microplastic pollution – from wearing tires to laundry cycles and flaking paint, and carrot of large objects in the environment.
Previous research has also shown nanoplashes in mollusk and fish, suggesting that these particles can be transferred and manufactured to the food chain.
“This study provides clear evidence that particles in the environment can accumulate not only in seafood but also in vegetables,” Professor Thompson said.
But scientists are worried that plastic pollution has contaminated the entire food chain of Britain, which means it is not just a maritime issue and has become almost impossible to escape.
Scientists from Sussex and Exeter universities found microplastics in slugs, beetles, snails and earthworms.
The study published in May suggested polyester, which is most likely from fabric, was the most common type of plastic found in the tested incharuki.
Researchers suspected that these plastic fibers came from dried human sewage mud, which are used by some farmers as fertilizers and could have fiber from washing machines.