Microplastic inclusion in birch tree roots.

Kat Austen, Joana MacLean, Daniel Balanzategui, Franz Hölker

The Science of the total environment 2022 Feb 20

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In this pilot study, microplastic beads (5-50 μm) were tagged with fluorescent dye and introduced to the soil of potted Betula pendula Roth. (silver birch) saplings during the growing season. After five months, root samples were examined using fluorescence- and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This paper presents the first documented indication of the incorporation of microplastic into root tissues of woody plants and discusses the phytoremediation potential of birch in soil with microplastic contamination. Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Kat Austen, Joana MacLean, Daniel Balanzategui, Franz Hölker. Microplastic inclusion in birch tree roots. The Science of the total environment. 2022 Feb 20;808:152085