Optimize lettuce washing methods to reduce the risk of microplastics ingestion: The evidence from microplastics residues on the surface of lettuce leaves and in the lettuce washing wastewater

Abstract

Airborne microplastics have been identified as an emerging contaminant that can adhere to the surface of leafy vegetables, and if not completely removed by washing, there is a high risk that human consumption of these plastics may cause harm to humans. In this study, we simulated atmospheric pollution by spraying microplastic particles (MPs) with particle sizes of 100 nm and 500 nm to determine whether MPs particles would adhere to the lettuce surface and whether different common cleaning methods (water rinsing, ultrasonic vibration cleaning, and edible detergent cleaning) would be effective in removing MPs from the leaf surfaces. We scanned the leaf surface with a laser confocal microscope and examined the wash water with a flow cytometer and found that simple rinsing was not effective in removing plastic particles from lettuce leaves. In comparison, ultrasonic vibratory cleaning showed a better efficiency, 4 times higher than more MPs being washed from the leaves. The most effective method was detergent washing, with the washing efficiency increased by 6.9 times. Ultrasonic vibrations can partially break the chemical bonds between MPs and plant surfaces, and detergents' surfactants can enhance MPs' hydrophilicity. MPs with a particle size of 100 nm were more difficult to clean than those with a particle size of 500 nm. This finding has important implications for the interaction of MPs contamination with vegetables and the cleaning of vegetables.