Plastic products are broadly used in industries and our daily lives. Accompanied with this widespread popularity is the alarming accumulation of plastic wastes in the environment.  Some of the plastic products gradually degrade into smaller plastic particles through weathering and mechanical abrasiveness, collectively called microplastics (MOs) and nanoplastics (NPs) when the particle diameter is less than 5 mm and 100 nm, respectively. The direct environmental risks posed by these MPs/NPs have attracted significant attention recently.  However, due to their very large specific surface area, MPs exhibit strong adsorption capacity for a large number of environmental contaminants. Under light irradiation, MPs/NPs induce reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, MPs/NPs typically carry a layer of biofilm on their surface which can potentially break down environmental pollutants biologically. Therefore, MPs/NPs could alter the fate and plant uptake of co-existing environmental pollutants. Poly- and per- fluorinated substances (PFAS) are a group highly recalcitrant and hazardous chemicals. Many of these compounds are ionized under environmental conditions and display different behaviors than neutralspecies. The goal of this study was to evaluate how the co-occurring MPs/NPs could alter the plant uptake and accumulation of two common PFAS compounds: polyfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its replacement hexafluoropropylene oxide dimmer acid (HFPO-DA) or GenX in a hydroponic system.  Detailed results will be presented and the impact of the properties of MPs/NPs and PFAS will be discussed.

Investigation on the altered plant uptake of poly- and per- fluorinated substances (PFAS) by co-present microplastics

ACS Fall 2021

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