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Article

Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability

by
Bhakti Jadhav
and
Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek
*
Institute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 53 Grunwaldzka Str., 50-357 Wroclaw, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2025, 30(11), 2370; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112370
Submission received: 30 April 2025 / Revised: 26 May 2025 / Accepted: 26 May 2025 / Published: 29 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Green Chemistry Section)

Abstract

This study investigates how different types of microplastics (MPs)—fibers, glitter, plastic bags, and plastic bottles—influence heavy metal uptake in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), a commonly consumed leafy vegetable. A controlled eight-week pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using contaminated loamy sand soil (polluted with Cd, Pb, Cu, and other metals) collected from a smelter-impacted area. Microplastics were added at a concentration of 70–80 mg/kg, and lettuce seedlings were grown under phytotron conditions (22 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH, 16 h light/8 h dark) without fertilizers or external contaminants. Plant roots and shoots were harvested, and heavy metals were analyzed via MP-AES and ICP-MS. The results showed that MPs altered heavy metal mobility, bioavailability, and plant uptake. Copper accumulation in leaves decreased substantially across MP treatments, from 80.84 mg/kg in the control to 26.35 mg/kg (glitter), whereas lead and cadmium concentrations increased significantly in roots under fiber and glitter exposure (Pb increased from 12.13 mg/kg to 33.57 mg/kg and Cd from 1.70 mg/kg to 2.05 mg/kg in fiber treatment). Cobalt accumulation in leaves increased under the plastic bag treatment, indicating MP-specific metal interactions. Root growth was also affected, with fibers promoting elongation and plastic bottles restricting it. Sequential extraction revealed that MPs modified metal partitioning in soil, with Pb and Ni more strongly retained in stable fractions under some treatments. Observed trends in soil pH and organic matter content were associated with changes in metal mobility, highlighting the potential role of soil properties in mediating microplastic–metal interactions. These findings highlight the role of MPs as mediators of heavy metal transport in crops and underscore the need for clear regulatory guidelines that limit microplastic contamination in agricultural soils and promote routine monitoring to safeguard food safety and crop health.
Keywords: microplastics; heavy metals; Lactuca sativa; soil contamination; bioavailability; agricultural sustainability; metal accumulation microplastics; heavy metals; Lactuca sativa; soil contamination; bioavailability; agricultural sustainability; metal accumulation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Jadhav, B.; Medyńska-Juraszek, A. Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability. Molecules 2025, 30, 2370. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112370

AMA Style

Jadhav B, Medyńska-Juraszek A. Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability. Molecules. 2025; 30(11):2370. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112370

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jadhav, Bhakti, and Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek. 2025. "Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability" Molecules 30, no. 11: 2370. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112370

APA Style

Jadhav, B., & Medyńska-Juraszek, A. (2025). Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability. Molecules, 30(11), 2370. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112370

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