Plant uptake and translocation of contaminants of emerging concern in soil

Abstract

The advent of industrialization has led to the discovery of a wide range of chemicals designed for multiple uses including plant protection. However, after use, most of the chemicals and their derivatives end up in soil and water, interacting with living organisms. Plants, which are primary producers, are intentionally or unintentionally exposed to several chemicals, serving as a vehicle for the transfer of products into the food chain. Although the exposure of pesticides towards plants has been witnessed over a long time in agricultural production, other chemicals have attracted attention very recently. In this review, we carried out a comprehensive overview of the plant uptake capacity of various contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in soil, such as pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, perfluorinated compounds, pharmaceutical and personal care products, and engineered nanomaterials. The uptake pathways and overall impacts of these chemicals are highlighted. According to the literature, bioaccumulation of CEC in the root part is higher than in aerial parts. Furthermore, various factors such as plant species, pollutant type, and microbial interactions influence the overall uptake. Lastly, environmental factors such as soil erosion and temperature can also affect the CEC bioavailability towards plants.

Keywords: Biochar; Contaminants of emerging concern; Engineered nanomaterials; Food crops; Phytouptake.