Microplastics and photosynthesis? A link that we did not think could ever exist, yet a new search gives alarming data.
By now we well know that microplastics are everywhere, but what is often not clear is how harmful they can be. A new study published in Pnas has highlighted these potential damage, estimating that microplastics can reduce photosynthesis rates up to 18%.
A phenomenon that could have worrying implications for the growth of plants and, consequently, for the production of food.
The study
A team of international researchers analyzed the data from 157 previous studies concerning plastic and photosynthesisusing automatic learning to create an overall picture on the global impact of these substances. The results, while varying according to the type of plant and its location, showed average reductions in photosynthesis rates between 7.05% and 12.12%both in terrestrial plants and in marine algae and fresh water. In particular, chlorophyll levels A, an essential pigment for photosynthesis, have been reduced to freshwater seaweed up to 18.25%.
Starting from these data, the team calculated the potential losses in terms of agricultural production and seafood. From grain crops to Europe to the production of corn in the United States, significant drops due to interference with photosynthesis have been observed.
This reduction is estimated to cause an annual loss of 109.73 to 360.87 million metric tons for agricultural production and 1.05 to 24.33 million metric tons for the production of seafood, the researchers write.
If these forecasts come true, we would find ourselves in front of a global food crisis, with millions of people at risk of hunger and nutritional deprivations, especially if the microplastics continue to pollute our planet with the same intensity.
Although the study is rigorous, it involves some hypotheses based on small -scale studies, trying to adapt the results to an extremely complex global food supply chain. Further research will be necessary to confirm the emerged forecasts.
However, it is a clear and worrying warning on the real and harmful effects that pollution from microplastics could have in the future. The growth of plants is the basis on which most of life is based on our planet, it goes without saying – therefore – that any alteration of this process will have devastating impacts on the entire ecosystem.
It is important to underline that these negative effects are destined to extend from food safety to the health of the planet, since photosynthesis and, consequently, primary productivity are the basis not only of food supply for humans, but also of vital ecological functions, scholars still write.
Previous research have shown how microplastics can infiltrate our body and reach even the most remote corners of the planet. We are already paying the price of our addiction to plastic and, if we do not intervene, we could find ourselves faced with even more serious consequences.
