Microplastics accumulate on pores in seed capsule and delay germination and root growth of the terrestrial vascular plant Lepidium sativum.
Chemosphere
; 226: 774-781, 2019 Jul.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30965248
ABSTRACT
The impacts of nano- and microplastics (<100â¯nm and <5â¯mm, respectively) on terrestrial systems is to the present largely unexplored. Plastic particles are likely to accumulate in these systems primarily by the application of sewage sludge. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of three sizes of plastic particles (50, 500, and 4800â¯nm) on a terrestrial plant (cress; Lepidium sativum), using a standardized 72â¯h bioassay. Cress seeds were exposed to five different concentrations of plastics, ranging from 103 to 107 particles mL-1. Germination rate was significantly reduced after 8â¯h of exposure for all three sizes of plastics, with increased adverse effect with increasing plastic sizes. Seeds exposed to 4800â¯nm microplastics showed a germination rate decline from 78% in control to 17% in the highest exposure. No difference in germination rate occurred after 24â¯h of exposure, regardless of the size of the plastic used. Significant differences in root growth were observed after 24â¯h, but not after 48 or 72â¯h of exposure. Impacts on germination are likely due to physical blockage of the pores in the seed capsule by microplastics as shown by confocal microscopy of fluorescent microplastics. In later stages, the microplastics particularly accumulated on the root hairs. This is the first detailed study on the effect of nano- and microplastics on a vascular, terrestrial plant, and our results indicate short-term and transient adverse effects.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Plásticos
/
Semillas
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Lepidium sativum
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Chemosphere
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
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GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
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UNITED KINGDOM