Microplastics are pervasive in the environment and often so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye. Removing them has been a big challenge, but recent research finds that water hyacinths can be effective at remediating microplastic from aquatic environments. Native to South America, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has become invasive in waterways across […]
  • Kissaki@beehaw.orgEnglish
    3·
    7 days ago

    In the new study, the vast majority of the microplastics were concentrated on the root caps of the plants, a protective structure on the tip of the plant’s roots. A smaller amount was observed in the roots themselves, and even less was found in the stem. No plastic was detected in the leaves.

    Notably, removal by binding them, not dissolving them.

    I don’t get why you would then suggest farming the leaves only. The microplastics are still in the environment then.

    Especially the burning example, wouldn’t collecting the whole plant and burning the roots too remove the microplastics from the environment instead of only binding them?

    • Vodulas [they/them]@beehaw.org
      3·
      7 days ago

      I don’t get why you would then suggest farming the leaves only.

      They were suggesting using the leaves as food for livestock, so you would not want the plastics in it. This is a guess, but I think they were just trying to say it could be a dual purpose “crop” since the leaves don’t contain any microplastics