Microplastics Are Messing with Photosynthesis in Plants
www.scientificamerican.com
Microplastics can cut a plant’s ability to photosynthesize by up to 12 percent, new research shows

Summary

New research reveals microplastics can reduce plants’ photosynthetic ability by 7-12% on average, with variations across terrestrial crops (6-18%), marine plants (2-12%), and freshwater algae (4-14%).

This pollution could cause 4-13.5% yield loss in staple crops over 25 years and decrease seafood production by up to 7% as aquatic ecosystems suffer.

Beyond threatening food security, reduced photosynthesis hampers carbon sequestration efforts critical for climate change.

Researchers estimate that reducing environmental microplastics by just 13% could mitigate photosynthesis loss by 30%.

  • Venator@lemmy.nzEnglish
    1·
    3 days ago

    MP exposure reduces the chlorophyll content of photoautotrophs by 10.96 to 12.84%.

    From the abstract of the paper OP linked

    • gressen@lemm.eeEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      Yeah but that means what exactly? Plastic deposits on the surface of the plant? Water contamination? Something else?

        • gressen@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          That’s beside my point. They talk about the difference between photosynthesis efficacy with and without MPs, but don’t explain how the MPs affect the process.

          • Venator@lemmy.nzEnglish
            2·
            3 days ago

            You don’t have to explain the process to observe the difference. But it could be useful to understand the process to help figure out ways to mitigate it. I think we’ll have to wait for future research to find that out though.