Next Article in Journal
Neodymium Exerts Biostimulant and Synergistic Effects on the Nutrition and Biofortification of Lettuce with Zinc
Next Article in Special Issue
Interplay of Stress Responses in Pear Tree Revealed by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Under Combined Erwinia amylovora Infection and Temperature Stress
Previous Article in Journal
The Impact of Light Quality on the Growth and Quality of Celery
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Horticulturae
Volume 11
Issue 7
10.3390/horticulturae11070775
horticulturae-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Perfluoroalkyl Substances Accumulation in Lettuce: Effects of Cultivar, Growth Stage, and Cultivation Conditions on Food Safety

by
Andrea Sabia
1,†,
Ilaria Battisti
1,*,†,
Anna Rita Trentin
1,
Xudong Wei
1,2,
Carlo Nicoletto
1,
Giancarlo Renella
1,* and
Antonio Masi
1
1
Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
2
School of Chemistry and Environment, Jiaying University, Meizhou 514015, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These Authors equally contributed to this work.
Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070775
Submission received: 1 June 2025 / Revised: 27 June 2025 / Accepted: 29 June 2025 / Published: 2 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Resistance Against Biotic and Abiotic Stressors)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent contaminants that pose growing food safety concerns due to their potential for accumulation in edible crops. This study investigated the uptake, translocation, and tissue distribution of 11 PFAS compounds in two hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars, Agila and Bonaly. Additionally, PFAS accumulation in Agila was assessed under field conditions in a PFAS-contaminated area. Under hydroponic conditions, lettuce plants at two developmental stages (28 and 56 days after sowing) were exposed to a mixture of PFAS at concentrations of 10 and 20 µg L−1 each. Under such conditions, Agila cultivar accumulated considerably higher levels of long-chain PFAS in both root and leaf tissues over time, whereas Bonaly cultivar demonstrated a more pronounced initial uptake and translocation of short-chain PFAS to leaves. Differently, Agila variety cultivated in a PFAS-polluted environment accumulated low concentrations of PFAS in leaf tissues, with only PFBA detected at minimal levels. The results emphasize the combined influence of plant variety, developmental stage, and cultivation methods on PFAS bioaccumulation, offering valuable guidance for food safety risk assessment and for developing targeted agricultural strategies in PFAS-contaminated areas.
Keywords: PFAS; Lactuca sativa; plant uptake; translocation; bioaccumulation; food safety; hydroponics; soil PFAS; Lactuca sativa; plant uptake; translocation; bioaccumulation; food safety; hydroponics; soil
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sabia, A.; Battisti, I.; Trentin, A.R.; Wei, X.; Nicoletto, C.; Renella, G.; Masi, A. Perfluoroalkyl Substances Accumulation in Lettuce: Effects of Cultivar, Growth Stage, and Cultivation Conditions on Food Safety. Horticulturae 2025, 11, 775. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070775

AMA Style

Sabia A, Battisti I, Trentin AR, Wei X, Nicoletto C, Renella G, Masi A. Perfluoroalkyl Substances Accumulation in Lettuce: Effects of Cultivar, Growth Stage, and Cultivation Conditions on Food Safety. Horticulturae. 2025; 11(7):775. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070775

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sabia, Andrea, Ilaria Battisti, Anna Rita Trentin, Xudong Wei, Carlo Nicoletto, Giancarlo Renella, and Antonio Masi. 2025. "Perfluoroalkyl Substances Accumulation in Lettuce: Effects of Cultivar, Growth Stage, and Cultivation Conditions on Food Safety" Horticulturae 11, no. 7: 775. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070775

APA Style

Sabia, A., Battisti, I., Trentin, A. R., Wei, X., Nicoletto, C., Renella, G., & Masi, A. (2025). Perfluoroalkyl Substances Accumulation in Lettuce: Effects of Cultivar, Growth Stage, and Cultivation Conditions on Food Safety. Horticulturae, 11(7), 775. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070775

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop