By Abbas Nazil
Nanoplastic particles as small as one-millionth of a centimeter can infiltrate edible parts of crops during growth, raising serious concerns about food safety and public health, according to a new study.
Published in Environmental Research, the study provides direct evidence of how plastic pollution can enter the human food chain through common agricultural produce.
Researchers from the University of Plymouth used radishes grown in a hydroponic system to demonstrate how polystyrene nanoparticles penetrate plant roots and migrate into edible tissues.
After just five days of exposure to a solution containing radiolabeled plastic nanoparticles, nearly 5 percent of the particles were retained by the radish root system.
Of this amount, about 25 percent accumulated in the edible root itself, while another 10 percent migrated into the leaves.
The findings are particularly concerning because the particles were able to bypass the Casparian strip, a natural barrier in plant roots that typically prevents harmful substances from entering.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Nathaniel Clark, explained that this discovery challenges long-standing assumptions about plant defenses against external contaminants.
Senior author Professor Richard Thompson, head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit, emphasized that the phenomenon is unlikely to be unique to radishes.
Given the widespread presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment, similar contamination risks may exist across a variety of fruits and vegetables consumed globally.
The research builds on earlier findings showing that marine organisms rapidly absorb plastic nanoparticles, confirming that plastic contamination is capable of moving through and accumulating within the food chain.
This raises new concerns about human exposure to plastics not only through seafood but also through agricultural produce.
The results underline the urgency of further investigation into the long-term health implications of nanoplastic ingestion and the need to strengthen environmental policies to reduce plastic pollution.
Without stronger action, the infiltration of plastics into essential food sources could become an escalating threat to global food safety.
