Microplastics are small plastic particles of different sizes and shapes. They are present in a natural environment and represent an important environmental problem. Scientists are mainly focused on interactions of microplastics with animals, especially on the effects after ingestion. Less attention is paid on plants and their interactions with microplastics, although plants come into contact with microplastics in wastewater treatment plant, wetlands and accumulation lakes. Plants are primary producers and represent food for other organisms. So on one hand plants represent available pathway for microplastics to enter food webs, on the other hand, the strong interactions could be used for phytoremediation to remove microplastics from the aquatic environment. Our work focused on interactions of three different types of microplastic made from polyethylene with common duckweed (Lemna minor). In order to be able to evaluate the interactions, we previously developed a method for digestion of plant biomass. Our results indicated that duckweed is able to adsorb and accumulate microplastics by roots and leaves. On average, 4 % spherical microplastics, 15 % fragments and 13 % foils adsorb on plant biomass from the total input of microplastics. Our results indicate important interactions between microplastics and aquatic plants, so the use of phytoremediation to stabilize microplastics and their subsequent removal from the water is currently one of the most promising approaches to remove microplastics in situ.
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