Chuang, Ya Hui, Liu, Cheng Hua, Sallach, J. Brett orcid.org/0000-0003-4588-3364 et al. (4 more authors) (2019) Mechanistic study on uptake and transport of pharmaceuticals in lettuce from water. Environment International. 104976. ISSN 0160-4120
Abstract
The dissemination of pharmaceuticals in agroecosystems originating from land application of animal manure/sewage sludge and irrigation with treated wastewater in agricultural production has raised concern about the accumulation of pharmaceuticals in food products. The pathways of pharmaceutical entries via plant roots, transport to upper fractions, and the factors influencing these processes have yet been systematically elucidated, thus impeding the development of effective measures to mitigate pharmaceutical contamination in food crops. In this study, lettuce uptake of thirteen commonly used pharmaceuticals was investigated using a hydroponic experimental setting. Pharmaceutical sorption by lettuce roots was measured in order to evaluate the influence on pharmaceutical transport from roots to shoots. Small-sized pharmaceuticals e.g., caffeine and carbamazepine with molecular weight (MW) <300 g mol−1 and a low affinity to lettuce roots (sorption coefficient Kp < 0.05 L g−1) manifested substantial transport to shoots. Small-sized molecules lamotrigine and trimethoprim had a relatively strong affinity to lettuce roots (Kp > 12.0 L g−1) and demonstrated a reduced transport to shoots. Large-sized pharmaceuticals (e.g. MW >400 g mol−1) including lincomycin, monensin sodium, and tylosin could be excluded from cell membranes, resulting in the predominant accumulation in lettuce roots. Large-sized oxytetracycline existed as zwitterionic species that could slowly enter lettuce roots; however, the relatively strong interaction with lettuce roots limits its transport to shoots. The mass balance analysis revealed that acetaminophen, β-estradiol, carbadox, estrone and triclosan were readily metabolized in lettuce with >90% loss during 144-h exposure period. A scheme was proposed to describe pharmaceutical uptake and transport in plant, which could reasonably elucidate many literature-reported results. Molecular size, reactivity and ionic speciation of pharmaceuticals, as well as plant physiology, collectively determine their uptake, transport and accumulation in plants.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019, The Author(s). |
Keywords: | Accumulation,Pharmaceuticals,Plant uptake,Sorption by roots,Transport |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Chemistry (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 16 Sep 2019 08:20 |
Last Modified: | 25 Dec 2024 00:20 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.104976 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104976 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:150889 |
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