A Comparative Study on the Effects of Nano- and Microplastics on Nutrient Element Accumulation and Physiological Performance in Arugula (Eruca sativa L.): Implications for Food Crop Safety | ||
| مجله علوم و صنایع غذایی ایران | ||
| Volume 23, 174-ویژه نامه, May 1405, Pages 205-220 PDF (366.61 K) | ||
| Document Type: مقاله پژوهشی | ||
| DOI: 10.48311/fsct.2026.119316.83062 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Afrah Toma Kalaf* 1; Saeb Jasim mohammed2; Marwan Abdulrazzaq Kamil3 | ||
| 1Department of Biology, College of Education, Samarra University | ||
| 22. Department of Biotechnolog. College of Applied Science . Samarra University | ||
| 33. Assistant Lecturer at Northern Technical University / Technical Institute Al-Dour. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Plastic pollution in irrigation water poses an emerging threat to agricultural systems. This study compared the effects of nanoplastics (NPs, 248 nm) and microplastics (MPs, 34 μm) on arugula (Eruca sativa L.) exposed to 10–100 mg/L concentrations justified by Tigris River contamination modeling. Plants were cultivated for 65 days in controlled chambers; particle characterization employed Py-GC/MS, μ-Raman, TEM-EDS, and confocal microscopy. Nitrogen was quantified by Kjeldahl digestion, and other minerals were quantified by ICP-OES. Statistical analysis used linear mixed-effects models with Benjamini–Hochberg correction. Nanoplastics induced greater nutrient depletion than microplastics: at 100 mg/L, nitrogen declined 50.9% (NP) vs. 37.3% (MP), iron 55.4% (NP) vs. 34.8% (MP) (P < 0.001). Oxidative stress markers (H₂O₂, MDA) increased 189% and 201% under NP vs. 156% and 168% under MP (P < 0.001). Although MP root accumulation (42.4 mg/kg) exceeded NP accumulation (14.4 mg/kg) threefold, NPs proved more phytotoxic. Subcellular imaging revealed NP penetration into chloroplasts and mitochondria; MPs remained extracellular. Fresh biomass declined 58.2% (NP) vs. 41.7% (MP) (P < 0.001). Antioxidant enzyme upregulation was stronger under NP exposure but insufficient to prevent oxidative damage. These findings demonstrate that nanoplastics pose a greater physiological threat to arugula than microplastics through organellar penetration and cellular dysfunction, despite lower tissue accumulation. Results highlight the urgent need to incorporate nano-scale particles into irrigation water quality standards and treatment technologies. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Nanoplastics; microplastics; arugula; mineral uptake; oxidative stress; food safety | ||
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