New research shows microplastics and nanoplastics enter plants through air, potentially reaching herbivores and humans via crops

A ‘Nature’ study has revealed that plants absorb microplastics and nanoplastics directly from the air, with these particles potentially entering the food chain through herbivores and crops consumed by humans. The research conducted by a team of scientists from several international institutions, including Nankai University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, highlights the risks posed by airborne plastic pollution.

Microplastics—particles up to 5 millimetres in diameter—and nanoplastics, which are smaller than 1,000 nanometres, are absorbed by plants through stomata (pores) and the cuticle (a waxy protective layer). Once inside the plant, the particles can move through its water and nutrient transport systems, accumulating in various tissues, including leaves, where they are particularly concentrated.

The study found that vegetables grown in outdoor environments showed concentrations of microplastics 10 to 100 times higher than those cultivated in greenhouses. Plants with longer growth periods, such as lettuce, had notably higher levels of microplastics in their outer leaves.

The findings underscore growing concerns over the ecological and health implications of atmospheric plastic pollution, as microplastics accumulate in plants and are subsequently passed up the food chain to herbivores and humans. Researchers are now calling for further studies into the potential impacts of plastic exposure on human health, particularly regarding how these particles are absorbed by the human body and whether they affect internal organs.