{"title":"The coexistence characteristics of microplastics and heavy metals in rhizomes of traditional Chinese medicine in mulch planting area.","authors":"Cong Xiao, Jiabin Zhou, Wen Xiong, Xiaochuan Ye","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02393-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rhizomatous traditional Chinese medicines (RTCMs) are widely crushed into powder and swallowed directly as medicine and food or health products to treat various diseases; however, they may contain toxic microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals. Currently, there are no reports on the detection of MPs and MP-heavy metal synergies in RTCMs. In this study, we selected eight representative RTCMs to investigate the abundance, types, sizes, and polymers of MP and heavy metals and to assess the level of contamination of MPs and synergies between MPs and heavy metals in RTCMs. The abundance of MPs in different RTCM ranged from 20.83 to 43.65 items/g. The dominant type was fragment (95.43%), and the dominant particle size was < 0.5 mm (73.72%) in MPs. Polyurethane (PU) (29.21%) and acrylics (ACR 13.53%) were the dominant polymers of MP. MP polymers showed obvious correlations with type and particle size: PU was enriched in 0-50-mm and 100-300-mm fragments, whereas ethylene vinyl acetate and ACR were enriched in 0-30-mm fibers. The heavy metals arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) were found to be more susceptible to synergistic contamination with MPs in RTCMs compared to other heavy metals. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of the MPs and heavy metals for RG (Rehmannia glutinosa) and RAY (Rhizoma atractylodis) were higher than others. The results showed that MP pollution is common in RTCMs and carries the potential risk of heavy metal or MP poisoning in humans who consume RTCMs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 3","pages":"74"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02393-0","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Rhizomatous traditional Chinese medicines (RTCMs) are widely crushed into powder and swallowed directly as medicine and food or health products to treat various diseases; however, they may contain toxic microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals. Currently, there are no reports on the detection of MPs and MP-heavy metal synergies in RTCMs. In this study, we selected eight representative RTCMs to investigate the abundance, types, sizes, and polymers of MP and heavy metals and to assess the level of contamination of MPs and synergies between MPs and heavy metals in RTCMs. The abundance of MPs in different RTCM ranged from 20.83 to 43.65 items/g. The dominant type was fragment (95.43%), and the dominant particle size was < 0.5 mm (73.72%) in MPs. Polyurethane (PU) (29.21%) and acrylics (ACR 13.53%) were the dominant polymers of MP. MP polymers showed obvious correlations with type and particle size: PU was enriched in 0-50-mm and 100-300-mm fragments, whereas ethylene vinyl acetate and ACR were enriched in 0-30-mm fibers. The heavy metals arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) were found to be more susceptible to synergistic contamination with MPs in RTCMs compared to other heavy metals. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of the MPs and heavy metals for RG (Rehmannia glutinosa) and RAY (Rhizoma atractylodis) were higher than others. The results showed that MP pollution is common in RTCMs and carries the potential risk of heavy metal or MP poisoning in humans who consume RTCMs.
期刊介绍：
Environmental Geochemistry and Health publishes original research papers and review papers across the broad field of environmental geochemistry. Environmental geochemistry and health establishes and explains links between the natural or disturbed chemical composition of the earth’s surface and the health of plants, animals and people.
Beneficial elements regulate or promote enzymatic and hormonal activity whereas other elements may be toxic. Bedrock geochemistry controls the composition of soil and hence that of water and vegetation. Environmental issues, such as pollution, arising from the extraction and use of mineral resources, are discussed. The effects of contaminants introduced into the earth’s geochemical systems are examined. Geochemical surveys of soil, water and plants show how major and trace elements are distributed geographically. Associated epidemiological studies reveal the possibility of causal links between the natural or disturbed geochemical environment and disease. Experimental research illuminates the nature or consequences of natural or disturbed geochemical processes.
The journal particularly welcomes novel research linking environmental geochemistry and health issues on such topics as: heavy metals (including mercury), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and mixed chemicals emitted through human activities, such as uncontrolled recycling of electronic-waste; waste recycling; surface-atmospheric interaction processes (natural and anthropogenic emissions, vertical transport, deposition, and physical-chemical interaction) of gases and aerosols; phytoremediation/restoration of contaminated sites; food contamination and safety; environmental effects of medicines; effects and toxicity of mixed pollutants; speciation of heavy metals/metalloids; effects of mining; disturbed geochemistry from human behavior, natural or man-made hazards; particle and nanoparticle toxicology; risk and the vulnerability of populations, etc.
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