Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on <i>Raphanus sativus</i>

The outburst of plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems poses a potential threat to agriculture and food safety. Studies have already provided evidence for the uptake of plastic microparticles by several plant species, accompanied by numerous developmental effects, using fluorescence labelling t...

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Main Authors: Leda-Eleni Tympa, Klytaimnistra Katsara, Panagiotis N. Moschou, George Kenanakis, Vassilis M. Papadakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2329
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spelling doaj-07f8de58fee441678741f929c66b12212021-04-30T23:01:23ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-04-01142329232910.3390/ma14092329Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on <i>Raphanus sativus</i>Leda-Eleni Tympa0Klytaimnistra Katsara1Panagiotis N. Moschou2George Kenanakis3Vassilis M. Papadakis4Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas, N. Plastira 100, GR-70013 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas, N. Plastira 100, GR-70013 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas, N. Plastira 100, GR-70013 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas, N. Plastira 100, GR-70013 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas, N. Plastira 100, GR-70013 Heraklion, GreeceThe outburst of plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems poses a potential threat to agriculture and food safety. Studies have already provided evidence for the uptake of plastic microparticles by several plant species, accompanied by numerous developmental effects, using fluorescence labelling techniques. Here, we introduce the implementation of confocal Raman spectroscopy, a label-free method, for the effective detection of microplastics (MPs) accumulation in the roots of a common edible root vegetable plant, <i>Raphanus sativus</i>, after treatment with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) powder. We also demonstrate the concomitant occurrence of phenotypic defects in the polymer-treated plants. We anticipate that this work can provide new insights not only into the extent of the impact this widespread phenomenon has on crop plants but also on the methodological requirements to address it.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2329label-freemicroscopydetectionplasticpollutionenvironment
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Leda-Eleni Tympa
Klytaimnistra Katsara
Panagiotis N. Moschou
George Kenanakis
Vassilis M. Papadakis
spellingShingle Leda-Eleni Tympa
Klytaimnistra Katsara
Panagiotis N. Moschou
George Kenanakis
Vassilis M. Papadakis
Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on <i>Raphanus sativus</i>
Materials
label-free
microscopy
detection
plastic
pollution
environment
author_facet Leda-Eleni Tympa
Klytaimnistra Katsara
Panagiotis N. Moschou
George Kenanakis
Vassilis M. Papadakis
author_sort Leda-Eleni Tympa
title Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on <i>Raphanus sativus</i>
title_short Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on <i>Raphanus sativus</i>
title_full Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on <i>Raphanus sativus</i>
title_fullStr Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on <i>Raphanus sativus</i>
title_full_unstemmed Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on <i>Raphanus sativus</i>
title_sort do microplastics enter our food chain via root vegetables? a raman based spectroscopic study on <i>raphanus sativus</i>
publisher MDPI AG
series Materials
issn 1996-1944
publishDate 2021-04-01
description The outburst of plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems poses a potential threat to agriculture and food safety. Studies have already provided evidence for the uptake of plastic microparticles by several plant species, accompanied by numerous developmental effects, using fluorescence labelling techniques. Here, we introduce the implementation of confocal Raman spectroscopy, a label-free method, for the effective detection of microplastics (MPs) accumulation in the roots of a common edible root vegetable plant, <i>Raphanus sativus</i>, after treatment with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) powder. We also demonstrate the concomitant occurrence of phenotypic defects in the polymer-treated plants. We anticipate that this work can provide new insights not only into the extent of the impact this widespread phenomenon has on crop plants but also on the methodological requirements to address it.
topic label-free
microscopy
detection
plastic
pollution
environment
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2329
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