Uptake and accumulation of four PPCP/EDCs in two leafy vegetables

Abstract

Many pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in reclaimed water, leading to concerns of human health risks from the consumption of food crops irrigated with reclaimed water. This study evaluated the potential for plant uptake and accumulation of four commonly occurring PPCP/EDCs, i.e., bisphenol A (BPA), diclofenac sodium (DCL), naproxen (NPX), and 4-nonylphenol (NP), by lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and collards (Brassica oleracea) in hydroponic culture, using 14C-labeled compounds. In both plant species, plant accumulation followed the order of BPA > NP > DCL > NPX and accumulation in roots was much greater than in leaves and stems. Concentrations of 14C-PPCP/EDCs in plant tissues ranged from 0.22±0.03 to 927± 213 ng/g, but nearly all 14C-residue was non-extractable. PPCP/EDCs, particularly BPA and NP, were also extensively transformed in the nutrient solution. Dietary uptake of these PPCP/EDCs by humans was predicted to be negligible.

Uptake and distribution of bisphenol A and nonylphenol in vegetable crops irrigated with reclaimed water

“…Ignoring the instability issue, the total mass uptake ranged from 0.002% (tomatoes) to 0.02% (lettuce, BPA) and 0.07% (lettuce, NP) of the total amount of both contaminants applied to both crops, with roots containing the highest concentrations of each. These results support those of Dodgen et al [36], who also reported maximum accumulation of BPA and NP in roots of lettuce and collards grown hydroponically, with minimal transport into aerial portions of the plants. These results indicate that uptake of both compounds by the plants is more efficient with foliar exposures, relative to root-only exposures.…”

A study on temporal trends and estimates of fate of Bisphenol A in agricultural soils after sewage sludge amendment

“…Estimated uptake by plants (Equations 5 -7) suggest that while only 4 % of the bioavailable BPA could enter the soil pore water, which is readily taken up into various food crops (Figure 4a) with leafy vegetables being particularly susceptible to BPA accumulation, followed by root vegetables and cereal grains. Uptake of BPA has been demonstrated in lettuce and brassicas in the laboratory using hydroponic systems which likely over-estimate uptake compared to that likely to occur in soil cultivation where only a small proportion of the BPA is predicted to be present in the pore 23 water and is available for plant uptake [Dodgen et al, 2013]. However, it must be noted that uptake into crops is different from subsequent human exposure as the latter is dependent on the amount of the crops consumed.…”

Edible fungus degrade bisphenol A with no harmful effect on its fatty acid composition

“…Because of the ubiquitous presence of BPA in water systems and the potential use of reclaimed water for irrigation to mediate water shortages, interest in determining whether BPA accumulates in food crops has been increasing (Liao and Kannan, 2013;Mezcua et al, 2012). The concentrations of BPA in lettuce and collard tissue have been reported to reach 23 ng/kg and 331 ng/kg, respectively (Dodgen et al, 2013). However, limited information is available on the degradation of BPA by these edible fungi.…”