High temperatures increase the absorption of nanoplastics by plants. This finding comes from a study by the University of Pisa, published in the journal Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, which is the first to analyze the amplifying effect of climate change on nanoplastic pollution.

The research was conducted by the Botany group led by Professor Monica Ruffini Castiglione and the Plant Physiology group led by Dr. Carmelina Spanò, in collaboration with researchers Stefania Bottega and Debora Fontanini. The experiment, carried out in the laboratories of the University of Pisa, used Azolla filiculoides Lam as a model plant— a small floating aquatic fern with thin, free-floating roots that absorb dissolved substances from water.

The pollutant used in the study was polystyrene nanoplastics, one of the most common and widespread plastic materials, found in disposable cutlery and plates, packaging, takeaway containers, and nursery trays for horticulture. The data revealed that at 35°C, the presence of nanoplastics inside the plant significantly increases compared to the optimal condition at 25°C. This leads to a decline in photosynthetic parameters, an increase in oxidative stress, and greater toxicity in plants.

The use of fluorescent nanoplastics allowed researchers to precisely track their absorption and distribution within plant tissues and organs.