Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
23th INTERNATIONAL İSTANBUL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CONGRESS ON LIFE, ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES, İstanbul, Türkiye, 20 Kasım - 22 Aralık 2025, cilt.1, sa.1, ss.1271-1279, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
The presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in agricultural systems has emerged as a
potential risk to food safety and human health. Edible crops may act as entry points for these plastic
particles into the food chain, yet evidence of their accumulation and translocation remains limited. In
this study, we review and synthesize recent research employing pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass
spectrometry (Py-GC–MS) to detect M(N)Ps in various edible crops, including cucumber, lettuce,
cowpea, flowering cabbage, rutabaga, and pak choi. Studies included both field-collected and
controlled-environment (greenhouse, hydroponic) samples. Py-GC–MS analysis confirmed the presence
of polymers such as polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), and nylon-66 in plant tissues, with reported concentrations ranging from low
nanogram to several hundred micrograms per gram dry weight. Root tissues showed the highest
accumulation, although some studies demonstrated limited upward translocation to edible shoots or
leaves. Factors influencing uptake included particle size, plant species, exposure pathway, and soil type.
These findings provide chemical confirmation that micro- and nanoplastics can accumulate in edible
crops, highlighting the need for further investigation into plant uptake mechanisms, human exposure
risks, and mitigation strategies. Py-GC–MS continues to serve as a critical tool for polymer-specific
identification and quantification in complex biological matrices.