Microplastics hinder plant photosynthesis, study finds, threatening millions with starvation | Plastics
Planet pollution by precise plastic is to cut dietary supplies significantly by destroying the ability of plants to light representation, according to a new evaluation.
The analysis estimates that between 4 % and 14 % of the world’s basic wheat crops, rice and corn are lost due to the widespread molecules. Scientists have said that it may get worse, as more accurate plastic is poured into the environment.
About 700 million people were affected by hunger in 2022. The researchers estimated that accurate pollution could increase the number of hunger at the risk of hunger by 400 million people in the next two decades, describing that the “disturbing scenario” of global food security.
Other scientists have called the research useful and timely, but they warned that this first attempt to determine the impact of accurate plastic on food production should be confirmed and improved through more data collection and research.
Researchers behind the new research said that the annual crop losses caused by accurate plastic can be of a similar range of the climate crisis in recent decades. The world is already facing a challenge to sustainable food production It rises to 10 billion By 2058.
Microleum plastic is divided from the huge quantities of waste thrown into the environment. They hinder the plants from harnessing sunlight to grow in multiple ways, from destroyed soil to carrying toxic chemicals. The molecules infiltrated the entire planet from The summit of Mount Everest to Deepest oceans.
“Humanity was striving to increase food production to feed the growing population constantly [but] The researchers, led by Professor Hayan Chung, at the University of Nanjing in China, said these ongoing efforts are now at risk through plastic pollution. The results confirm the urgency [of cutting pollution] To protect global food supplies in the face of the growing plastic crisis. “
People’s bodies are already contaminated widely by accurate plastic, consumed by food and water. It was found in bloodand Brainsand Breast milkand Placenta and Bone marrow. The influence on human health is largely unknown, but they were Concerned with strokes and heart attacks.
“This analysis is valuable and at the appropriate time to remind us of the potential dangers of accurate plastic pollution and the urgency to address the case,” said Professor Dennis Murphy, at the University of South Wales in Australia. [but] Some main main numbers require more research before accepting them as strong expectations. “
The new study, Posted in the Journal of the National Academy of SciencesCompletely more than 3000 notes of the effect of exact plastic on plants, taken from 157 studies.
Previous research indicated that accurate plastic can harm plants in multiple ways. Contaminated molecules can Sunlight Access to the papers and Soil On which plants depend. When eaten by plants, microorganisms can Prevent nutrient and water channels, Unstable molecules harm cells and The release of toxic chemicalsWhich can reduce the level of optical chlorophyll.
The researchers estimated that microscopic plastids reduced the optical representation of the Earth’s plants by about 12 % and about 7 % in the sea algae, which is located at the ocean dining base. Then they extracted this data to calculate a decrease in the growth of wheat, rice and corn, and in the production of fish and seafood.
Asia was more difficult than the estimated crop losses, with discounts in every three of 54 meters and 177 million tons annually, or about half of the global losses. Wheat in Europe was also severely injured as the atom was in the United States. Other regions, such as South America and Africa, grow lower than these crops but have much less data than accurate plastic pollution.
In the oceans, where accurate plastic can draw algae, the loss of fish and seafood has been estimated between 1 meters and 24 meters annually, or about 7 % of the total and sufficient protein to feed tens of millions of people.
Scientists also used a second way to assess the effect of accurate plastic on food production, a model of automated learning that depends on current data on fine pollution levels. They said similar results.
“The most important thing is, these harmful effects of food security are likely to extend to the health of the planets,” said Chung and his colleagues. Reducing photosynthesis caused by accurate plastic may also cut the amount of carbon dioxide that heats the climate taken from the atmosphere by the huge vertebral plankton flowers in the Earth’s oceans and inhibiting other ecological systems.
Professor Richard Lambit, at the National Center for Oceanic Sciences in the United Kingdom, said that conclusions should be dealt with caution. He said: “I have significant concerns about the quality of the original data used by the model, and this has increased plastic pollution compensation for food supplies.” The researchers admitted that more data was needed and said this would lead to more accurate estimates.
The countries of the world failed to reach an agreement on the United Nations Treaty to reduce plastic pollution in December, but will restart the talks in August. The scientists said that their study is “important and timely for continuous negotiations and developing work plans and goals.”
Professor Richard Thompson, at the University of Pleimouth, said the new study added evidence indicating the need to take action. “Although predictions may be improved with the availability of new data, it is clear … We need to start solutions. Ensuring the treating of the treaty considers accurate plastic pollution of significant importance.
