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HERO ID
7335761
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
PET-microplastics as a vector for heavy metals in a simulated plant rhizosphere zone
Author(s)
Abbasi, S; Moore, F; Keshavarzi, B; Hopke, PK; Naidu, R; Rahman, MM; Oleszczuk, P; Karimi, J
Year
2020
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Science of the Total Environment
ISSN:
0048-9697
EISSN:
1879-1026
Volume
744
Page Numbers
140984
Language
English
PMID
32707415
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140984
Web of Science Id
WOS:000573549300017
Abstract
Although microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous contaminants in different ecosystems, their interactions with other pollutants including heavy metals remain relatively unknown. Wheat is an important grain that makes the basis of human food in many parts of the world. Thus, pollutants that affect its production are important subjects of study. This research focuses on the possible effects of the transport of the adsorbed heavy metals onto MPs to the roots of growing wheat. The adsorption of three heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Zn) onto PET particles was examined. Pb and Cd were selected because they are known to be toxic, while Zn is an essential nutrient for plants. Adsorption experiments were performed using 1 g of PET-MP particles in 20 ml of five different concentrations of each individual element (Pb, Cd, and Zn) (denoted as S-elements). To investigate the antagonistic and synergistic effects of these elements on each other, they were studied collectively with all 3 elements present (denoted as C-elements). Desorption experiments were then performed for three scenarios in which the wheat rhizosphere zone was simulated. Generally, the concentration of the investigated heavy metals adsorption on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) decreased in the order: S-Cd > S-Zn > S-Pb and C-Zn > T-Cd > C-Pb. PET particles exposed to Zn, Cd, and Pb solution adsorbed from 7.2 to 8.5%, 5.3 to 9.8%, and 29.8 to 68.5% of the initial heavy metals concentration, respectively. 11.3 to 15.2%, 12.5 to 23.35%, and 5.5 to 33.6% of the initially adsorbed Zn, Cd, and Pb were desorbed in the wheat rhizosphere zone in the three defined scenarios, respectively. The results show that PET particles can act as a vector in transferring heavy metals to the rhizosphere zone.
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