Tracking Nano- and Microplastics in Plants: Uptake Pathways, Tissue Distribution, and Analytical Strategies from...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Plant Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Nano- and microplastics (NMPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants found in agroecosystems.
• Plants are exposed to NMPs via soil, water, and air, leading to potential physiological stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review microscopy techniques for visualizing NMPs in plant tissues.
• To discuss complementary methods for chemical identification and quantification of NMPs.
• To guide the selection of analytical techniques for studying plant-plastic interactions.

Main Methods:

• Microscopy techniques (e.g., SEM, TEM, fluorescence microscopy) for NMP visualization.
• Spectroscopic methods (e.g., FTIR, Raman) for chemical identification.
• Mass-based analytical techniques for NMP quantification.

Main Results:

• Microscopy reveals NMP size, distribution, and cellular interactions within plants.
• Spectroscopic and mass-based methods confirm polymer identity and quantity.
• Challenges include low contrast and distinguishing NMPs from plant structures.

Conclusions:

• Accurate detection and quantification of NMPs in plants require a combination of imaging and analytical techniques.
• Understanding plant-NMP interactions is crucial for assessing environmental risks.
• Further development of analytical methods is needed to overcome current challenges.