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Degrading plastic releases microplastics into the environment, threatening soil and water ecosystems. Research has focused on how these contaminants impact plant growth. Pollutants also include antibiotics like SMX found in landfills and water sources. This study examines the effects of microplastics (PVC and PS) and the antibiotic SMX on plant growth, both individually and combined, using three plant species (Lepidium sativum, Sorghum saccharatum, and Sinapis alba) and the Phytotoxkit Microbiotest, which is advantageous for its speed, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. The study measured root and shoot lengths to assess contaminant impact.
Additionally, electrospinning is highlighted as a promising technique for addressing water pollution. Electrospun membranes, with their highly porous structure, effectively filter microplastics from water. Advances in this technology have incorporated inorganic nanoparticulates into fibrous polymer matrices, enhancing their efficiency in removing contaminants from wastewater. The study underscores electrospinning’s potential as a sustainable solution for reducing plastic pollution and other environmental hazards.
We came up with the idea of our project while cleaning the beach with a group of students of our school as we wondered how the plastic products disposed of to the water used for irrigation and sedation affect plants.
Documentation
Electrospun nanofiber membranes for mixed microplastic and co-contaminants removal on seed germination and early plant growth Over the past few years, the planet has been suffering from several environmental problems such as climate change and pollution. In recent years, plastic waste has been attracting more and more attention as a global environmental problem due to its wide range of uses and fields that are expanding year by year. When plastic products are decomposed to the environment, microplastics are left in the soil or the water, which is hazardous for wildlife. To prevent the catastrophic consequences of this contamination, research has been made to study the effects those contaminants have on plant growth. Those pollutants can also be antibiotics that have been disposed of to the landfills and then end up in the water. The present study aims to present the impact to the growth of a plant in the presence of MPs (PVC, PS) and antibiotic (SMX) either separately or mixed. MPs are recognized as a new form of pollutant that has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide. For the conduction of the study three types of plants were used: Lepidium sativum, Sorghum saccharatum and Sinapis alba. To study the effects the contaminants have on the plants the Phytotoxkit Microbiotest was used. The advantages of this toxicity bioassay compared to chemical analysis and many other bioassays are its speed, relative simplicity, and low cost. Lastly, the root and shoot length of each seed were measured to determine whether the presence of the contaminants caused a decrease or an increase to this length. Additionally, electrospinning emerges as a promising technique for addressing water pollution challenges. Electrospun membranes offer a highly porous structure with selective retention capabilities, making them effective in filtering microplastics from water sources. Furthermore, electrospinning technology has advanced incorporating inorganic nanoparticulates within functional fibrous polymer matrices, enhancing their adsorption efficiency for removing contaminants from wastewater. This study highlights the potential of electrospinning as a sustainable solution for mitigating plastic pollution and other environmental hazards.
