Pathway Revealed for Microplastics Absorption by Plant Leaves

A research team from Nankai University published findings in Nature, confirming for the first time that plant leaves can absorb atmospheric microplastics through stomata and transport them to vascular tissues via the apoplastic pathway. Near polyester manufacturing facilities, PET microplastic concentrations in plant leaves reached up to 10⁴ ng/g, showing significant correlation with atmospheric pollution levels. This discovery overturns the conventional understanding that “microplastics primarily enter the food chain via soil-root pathways,” offering a new perspective for assessing microplastic health risks.