Modeling microplastic transport in plants using microfluidic systems

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a global environmental problem. In the countries of the European Union, synthetic textile fibers make up about 35% of the MPs found in the environment, part of which enters nature during the washing process. According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), laundry releases approximately 13,000 tons of MPs into the environment each year. These particles are found in water, soil, the atmosphere, and the human body. MP pollution alters soil properties, affecting the physiology of cultivated plants growing in it. Therefore, it is important to identify plants that can tolerate or even actively respond to MP exposure. One such plant is buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), whose roots synthesize more oxalic acid when exposed to low concentrations of MPs (5–10 mg/L). However, detailed studies in this area are lacking, making it necessary to analyze the pathways of MP migration through the plant’s roots, stem, and leaves. These results will aid in understanding and may be used by other researchers to examine how MP accumulation and interaction with plant tissues affect plant growth dynamics, photosynthetic efficiency, and resistance to environmental stress. Such understanding could help select plants with better resistance to MP pollution and contribute to developing more sustainable agricultural practices.

 
Keywords:

Microplastics, particle migration, microfluidics, microplastic separation, microplastic morphological and chemical properties.

Acronym: PLASTRO

Project ID: 12_PLASTRO/25.26

Call: “RTO Lithuania” call for proposals for exploratory research projects in 2025 together with partners from FTMC, LAMMC, LEI

Total cost: 30 000 EUR (allocated to LEI: 10 000 EUR).

Coordinator: Lithuanian Energy Institute, Lithuania.

Partners:

• Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Lithuania;
• Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Lithuania.