Consumption Of Food Crops Research Articles

Addressing bystander exposure to agricultural pesticides in life cycle impact assessment

Residents living near agricultural fields may be exposed to pesticides drifting from the fields after application to different field crops. To address this currently missing exposure pathway in life cycle assessment (LCA), we developed a modeling framework for quantifying exposure of bystanders to pesticide spray drift from agricultural fields. Our framework consists of three parts addressing: (1) loss of pesticides from an agricultural field via spray drift; (2) environmental fate of pesticide in air outside of the treated field; and (3) exposure of bystanders to pesticides via inhalation. A comparison with measured data in a case study on pesticides applied to potato fields shows that our model gives good predictions of pesticide air concentrations. We compared our bystander exposure estimates with pathways currently included in LCA, namely aggregated inhalation and ingestion exposure mediated via the environment for the general population, and general population exposure via ingestion of pesticide residues in consumed food crops. The results show that exposure of bystanders is limited relative to total population exposure from ingestion of pesticide residues in crops, but that the exposure magnitude of individual bystanders can be substantially larger than the exposure of populations not living in the proximity to agricultural fields. Our framework for assessing bystander exposure to pesticide applications closes a relevant gap in the exposure assessment included in LCA for agricultural pesticides. This inclusion aids decision-making based on LCA as previously restricted knowledge about exposure of bystanders can now be taken into account.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with high folate content in wild potato species.

Micronutrient deficiency, also known as the hidden hunger, affects over two billion people worldwide. Potato is the third most consumed food crops in the world, and is therefore a fundamental element of food security for millions of people. Increasing the amount of micronutrients in food crop could help alleviate worldwide micronutrient malnutrition. In the present study, we report on the identification of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with folate, an essential micronutrient in the human diet. A high folate diploid clone Fol 1.6 from the wild potato relative Solanum boliviense (PI 597736) was crossed with a low/medium folate diploid S. tuberosum clone USW4self#3. The resulting F1 progeny was intermated to generate an F2 population, and tubers from 94 F2 individuals were harvested for folate analysis and SNP genotyping using a SolCap 12K Potato SNP array. Folate content in the progeny ranged from 304 to 2,952 ng g-1 dry weight. 6,759 high quality SNPs containing 4,174 (62%) polymorphic and 2,585 (38%) monomorphic SNPs were used to investigate marker-trait association. Association analysis was performed using two different approaches: survey SNP-trait association (SSTA) and SNP-trait association (STA). A total of 497 significant SNPs were identified, 489 by SSTA analysis and 43 by STA analysis. Markers identified by SSTA were located on all twelve chromosomes while those identified by STA were confined to chromosomes 2, 4, and 6. Eighteen of the significant SNPs were located within or in close proximity to folate metabolism-related genes. Forty two SNPs were identical between SSTA and STA analyses. These SNPs have potential to be used in marker-assisted selection for breeding high folate potato varieties.

Maximizing the Nutritional Potential of Potato: the Case of Folate

Micronutrient malnutrition, also known as the hidden hunger, affects over two billion people worldwide. Potato is the third most consumed food crop in the world and is therefore a fundamental element of food security for millions of people. Increasing the amount of micronutrients in potatoes could help alleviate worldwide micronutrient malnutrition. Folate (or vitamin B9) is an essential micronutrient in the human diet. Deficiencies in folate lead to serious, sometimes lethal, diseases. Unfortunately, folate intake remains suboptimal in both developing and developed regions of the world. This paper uses folate to illustrate various approaches that could be implemented to increase micronutrient content in potato. It provides a brief overview of recent analyses of folate content in diverse potato germplasm, of changes in folate content during tuber development, and of the effect of postharvest low-temperature storage of potato on folate content, and how an optimization of these different factors could lead to significant increases in folate intake from potato.

Environmental risk assessment of lead-zinc mining: a case study of Adudu metallogenic province, middle Benue Trough, Nigeria.

Assessment of the impacts of lead-zinc mining in Adudu-Imon metallogenic province was carried out. Reconnaissance and detailed field studies were done. Lithologies, stream sediments, farmland soils, mine tailings, artificial pond water, stream water, well water, and borehole water were collected and subjected to atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses. Geochemical maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.1. Significant contamination with cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), and lead (Pb) was recorded in the collected water samples. Virtually all collected soil samples were observed to be highly contaminated when compared with the European Union environmental policy standard. The discharge of mining effluents through farmlands to the Bakebu stream, which drains the area, further exposes the dwellers of this environment to the accumulation of potentially harmful metals (PHMs) in their bodies through the consumption of food crops, aquatic animals, and domestic uses of the water collected from the stream channels. The study revealed non-conformity of past mining operations in the Adudu-Imon province to existing mining laws in Nigeria. Inhabitants of this region should stop farming in the vicinity of the mines, fishing from the Bakebu stream channels should be discouraged, and domestic use of the water should be condemned, even as concerned government agencies put necessary mercenaries in place to ensure conformity of miners to standard mining regulations in Nigeria.

Transfer of Heavy Metals from Soils to Vegetables and Associated Human Health Risks at Selected Sites in Pakistan.

Contamination of the food chain with heavy metals is considered as one of the major environmental pathways of human exposure to metals leading to potential health risks. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn) in agricultural soils and food crops (fruit, leaf, and root vegetables), and their associated health risks to the local population in selected southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The concentrations of the selected metals in soil varied over a wide range, in the following decreasing order: Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu. The bioaccumulation of metals in vegetables was within the permissible risk limits, except for Cr which showed higher contamination in all the tested food crops. The trend of metal transfer factors for different vegetables was in the order of Cu > Ni > Cr > Mn > Zn, while the calculated daily intake of metals (DIM) in adults and children through consumption of food crops was in the decreasing order of Mn > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cu. The health risk index (HRI) values for the heavy metals for both adults and children were less than 1. Therefore, no significant health risk is anticipated for the local consumers through ingestion of these food crops.

Are We Getting Better at Using Wild Potato Species in Light of New Tools?

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), mankind's third most consumed food crop, originated as an interspecific hybrid in the Andean highlands. More than 100 species closely related to potato exist throughout Central and South America. Potato was introduced to Europe, Asia, and North America in the 16th and 17th centuries, but most cultivars were destroyed by late blight epidemics in the mid‐19th century. Late blight resistance genes from the wild relative Solanum demissum Lindl. were subsequently introduced into cultivated potato. Thus, a precedent for the use of wild relatives in potato genetic improvement was established a century ago. Intensive efforts have been made to collect and maintain wild relatives of potato in public germplasm repositories. Genetic diversity in these species is high, and most are sexually compatible with cultivated potato. Perhaps more than any other vegetable crop, potato can benefit from the introgression of genes for valuable traits from wild relatives. However, a century of breeding has realized that potential on only a few notable occasions. Important examples include improved processing quality and resistance to viruses and nematodes. Substantial barriers prevent the facile incorporation of genetic material from wild relatives into potato cultivars. Overcoming these barriers may require an expansion of germplasm collections to include well‐characterized individuals as a complement to population‐based accessions. To be most useful for potato improvement, individual wild species plants will need to be cataloged by allelic composition, haplotype, biochemical properties, and physiological responses to stress. Effectively using the genetic diversity in wild relatives is likely to rely heavily on alternative methods of potato breeding, augmenting reassortment, and selection at the tetraploid level with diploid breeding and genetic modification using biotechnology.

Detoxification of <i>Nyar-Udota</i> Cassava Variety in Zombo District by Fermentation

Fermentation is capable of detoxifying cassava cultivars. Cassava is one of the most important food crops in the world and in Uganda it is the second most consumed food crop after bananas. However, cassava has some toxic compounds, the cyanogenic glycosides such as linamarin and lotaustralin. Ingestion of the toxins in abundant quantities can be harmful to the health of both humans and animals. Cassava may hence, present a potential health risk to the consumers. Information regarding better detoxifying methods and processing conditions of cyanogenic glycosides content in cassava is vital for avoidance of health risks associated with cassava consumption. Accordingly, one local cultivar, <i>Nyar-udota</i>, was subjected to fermentation for detoxification of their cyanogenic content. Fermentation achieved significant detoxification of the cyanogenic glycosides in the cassava cultivar up to 64.7% and the decrease varied with period of fermentation.

Bioinformatic Analyses of Subgroup-A Members of the Wheat bZIP Transcription Factor Family and Functional Identification of TabZIP174 Involved in Drought Stress Response.

Extensive studies in Arabidopsis and rice have demonstrated that Subgroup-A members of the bZIP transcription factor family play important roles in plant responses to multiple abiotic stresses. Although common wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed food crops in the world, there are limited investigations into Subgroup A of the bZIP family in wheat. In this study, we performed bioinformatic analyses of the 41 Subgroup-A members of the wheat bZIP family. Phylogenetic and conserved motif analyses showed that most of the Subgroup-A bZIP proteins involved in abiotic stress responses of wheat, Arabidopsis, and rice clustered in Clade A1 of the phylogenetic tree, and shared a majority of conserved motifs, suggesting the potential importance of Clade-A1 members in abiotic stress responses. Gene structure analysis showed that TabZIP genes with close phylogenetic relationships tended to possess similar exon–intron compositions, and the positions of introns in the hinge regions of the bZIP domains were highly conserved, whereas introns in the leucine zipper regions were at variable positions. Additionally, eleven groups of homologs and two groups of tandem paralogs were also identified in Subgroup A of the wheat bZIP family. Expression profiling analysis indicated that most Subgroup-A TabZIP genes were responsive to abscisic acid and various abiotic stress treatments. TabZIP27, TabZIP74, TabZIP138, and TabZIP174 proteins were localized in the nucleus of wheat protoplasts, whereas TabZIP9-GFP fusion protein was simultaneously present in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing TabZIP174 displayed increased seed germination rates and primary root lengths under drought treatments. Overexpression of TabZIP174 in transgenic Arabidopsis conferred enhanced drought tolerance, and transgenic plants exhibited lower water loss rates, higher survival rates, higher proline, soluble sugar, and leaf chlorophyll contents, as well as more stable osmotic potential under drought conditions. Additionally, overexpression of TabZIP174 increased the expression of stress-responsive genes (RD29A, RD29B, RAB18, DREB2A, COR15A, and COR47). The improved drought resistance might be attributed to the increased osmotic adjustment capacity. Our results indicate that TabZIP174 may participate in regulating plant response to drought stress and holds great potential for genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in crops.

Health risk from heavy metal and pesticide residue via consumption of food crop in Huitong, Zhuhai, China

Health risk from heavy metal and pesticide residue via consumption of food crop in Huitong, Zhuhai, China

Assessment of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) diversity, loss of landraces and farmers preference criteria in southern Benin using farmers’ participatory approach

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the highly produced and consumed food crops in Benin Republic. Through the application of participatory research appraisal tools and techniques, such as direct observations, group discussions and field visit, cassava production constraints, the diversity at the community level and farmers’ varieties preference criteria were assessed in southern Benin. Base on national statistic cassava production fifty five (55) villages were selected and surveyed in the southern Benin. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data collected. About 11 constraints were listed by farmers, and the most important were low productivity, low post-maturity underground storage capacity of the roots of some cultivars, viral disease (cassava mosaic disease), susceptibility to high soil moisture, and lack of early maturing cultivars, which together accounted for 68.02 % of the total responses. Additionally, a total of 125 existing landraces were recorded. The distribution and extent pattern revealed 59 elites cultivars (cultivated by many households and on large areas) that were further grouped into 23 categories based on their agronomic, technological and culinary characteristics. In most of the villages, the farmers’ perception of cultivar loss was based on abandonment of some cultivars due to their poor agronomic (69.12 % of responses) and culinary and/or technological attributes (30.88 % of responses). Within the existing diversity, cultivar choice or preferences are based on 22 culinary, technological, agronomic and economic criteria and their importance vary across the different department. Among these criteria, the most important were high productivity, good quality of the gari, early maturity and good friability accounted together for 48.12 % of the total responses. The presence of duplicates or synonyms was also observed and it is suggested that both morphological and molecular characterization and classification be carried out for better identification of cultivars.

Genome-wide identification and evolutionary analyses of bZIP transcription factors in wheat and its relatives and expression profiles of anther development related TabZIP genes.

BackgroundAmong the largest and most diverse transcription factor families in plants, basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family participate in regulating various processes, including floral induction and development, stress and hormone signaling, photomorphogenesis, seed maturation and germination, and pathogen defense. Although common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed food crops in the world, there is no comprehensive analysis of bZIPs in wheat, especially those involved in anther development. Previous studies have demonstrated wheat, T. urartu, Ae. tauschii, barley and Brachypodium are evolutionarily close in Gramineae family, however, the real evolutionary relationship still remains mysterious.ResultsIn this study, 187 bZIP family genes were comprehensively identified from current wheat genome. 98, 96 and 107 members of bZIP family were also identified from the genomes of T.urartu, Ae.tauschii and barley, respectively. Orthology analyses suggested 69.4 % of TubZIPs were orthologous to 68.8 % of AetbZIPs and wheat had many more in-paralogs in the bZIP family than its relatives. It was deduced wheat had a closer phylogenetic relationship with barley and Brachypodium than T.urartu and Ae.tauschii. bZIP proteins in wheat, T.urartu and Ae.tauschii were divided into 14 subgroups based on phylogenetic analyses. Using Affymetrix microarray data, 48 differentially expressed TabZIP genes were identified to be related to anther development from comparison between the male sterility line and the restorer line. Genes with close evolutionary relationship tended to share similar gene structures. 15 of 23 selected TabZIP genes contained LTR elements in their promoter regions. Expression of 21 among these 23 TabZIP genes were obviously responsive to low temperature. These 23 TabZIP genes all exhibited distinct tissue-specific expression pattern. Among them, 11 TabZIP genes were predominantly expressed in anther and most of them showed over-dominance expression mode in the cross combination TY806 × BS366.ConclusionsThe genome-wide identification provided an overall insight of bZIP gene family in wheat and its relatives. The evolutionary relationship of wheat and its relatives was proposed based on orthology analyses. Microarray and expression analyses suggested the potential involvement of bZIP genes in anther development and facilitated selection of anther development related gene for further functional characterization.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2196-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals through the consumption of food crops fertilized by biosolids: A probabilistic-based analysis

The objective of this study was to perform a probabilistic risk analysis (PRA) to assess the health risk of Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) through the consumption of food crops grown on farm lands fertilized by biosolids. The risk analysis was conducted using 8 years of historical heavy metal data (2005–2013) of the municipal biosolids generated by a nearby treatment facility considering one-time and long-term biosolids land application scenarios for a range of 5–100t/ha fertilizer application rate. The 95th percentile of the hazard index (HI) increased from 0.124 to 0.179 when the rate of fertilizer application increased from 5 to 100t/ha at one-time biosolids land application. The HI at long-term biosolids land application was also found 1.3 and 1.9 times greater than that of one-time land application at fertilizer application rates of 5 and 100t/ha, respectively. Rice ingestion had more contribution to the HI than vegetable ingestion. Cd and Cu were also found to have more contribution to the health risk associated to vegetable and rice ingestion, respectively. Results indicated no potential risk to the human health even at long-term biosolids land application scenario at 100t/ha fertilizer application rate.

Potential bioavailability of lead, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in compost-amended urban soils.

Urban soils may contain harmful concentrations of contaminants, such as lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), that can transfer from soil to humans via soil ingestion and consumption of food crops grown in such soils. The objective of this research was to assess the effectiveness of adding different compost types to reduce both direct (soil-human) and indirect (soil-plant-human) exposure of Pb, As, and PAHs to humans. A field experiment was conducted in 2011 and 2012 at an urban garden site with elevated concentrations of Pb (475 mg kg), As (95 mg kg), and PAHs (23-50 mg kg). Soil amendments were composted biosolids, noncomposted biosolids, mushroom compost, leaf compost, and a nonamended control. Collard greens, tomatoes, and carrots were then grown in the amended and nonamended soils and nonamended soils that received urea in 2011. At the beginning of the second season, N-P-K fertilizer was added to all plots. The potential for direct and indirect exposure was evaluated. Soil Pb bioaccessibility was 1 to 4.3%, and As bioaccessibility was 7.3 to 12.3%. Composted biosolids reduced the bioaccessibility of soil Pb by ∼17% compared with the control but temporarily increased the bioaccessibility of As by ∼ 69% compared with the control when soluble inorganic P concentration in soil was elevated by P fertilizer application in 2012. The bioaccessibility of soil Pb decreased by ∼38% in all treatments when soluble inorganic P concentration in soil was elevated by P fertilizer. Compost amendments reduced the concentrations of low molecular weight PAHs in soil. Regardless of the treatments, the concentrations of Pb, As, and PAHs measured in the vegetables were low or nondetectable, except for Pb in carrots. Consumption of vegetables grown at this site will cause insignificant transfer of Pb, As, and PAHs to humans.

Expression of Arabidopsis MYB transcription factor, AtMYB111, in tobacco requires light to modulate flavonol content.

Flavonoids, due to their pharmacological attributes, have recently become target molecules for metabolic engineering in commonly consumed food crops. Strategies including expression of single genes and gene pyramiding have provided only limited success, due principally to the highly branched and complex biosynthetic pathway of the flavonoids. Transcription factors have been demonstrated as an efficient tool for metabolic engineering of this pathway, but often exhibit variation in heterologous systems relative to that in the homologous system. In the present work, Arabidopsis MYB transcription factor, AtMYB111, has been expressed in tobacco to study whether this can enhance flavonoid biosynthesis in heterologous system. The results suggest that AtMYB111 expression in transgenic tobacco enhances expression of genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway leading to an elevated content of flavonols. However, dark incubation of transgenic and wild type (WT) plants down-regulated both the expression of genes as well as flavonoid content as compared to light grown plants. The study concludes that AtMYB111 can be effectively used in heterologous systems, however, light is required for its action in modulating biosynthetic pathway.

Potential Risk Assessment of Metal Consumption in Food Crops Irrigated with Wastewater

This study investigates the potential risk assessment via consumption of food crops irrigated with wastewater in the districts Sialkot and Gujranwala, Pakistan. For this purpose, samples of water, soil, and food crops were collected from the study area. Metals including potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentration of Na was found highest in wastewater (WW), followed by Ca, Mg, etc., while lowest for Co. Similarly, in WW irrigated soil (WWIS) the highest concentration was found for Fe and lowest for Co, while other metal fall between these two extremes. Results showed significance (p &lt; 0.001) using t‐test among WW and WWIS as compared to tube well water (TW) and TW irrigated soil (TWIS). Food crops were assessed for daily intake of metal and health risk index (HRI), revealing an HRI &lt; 1. However, if current practices continued it could cause health hazards in near future. Therefore, this study suggested that local farmers should be educated using awareness programs to avoid WW irrigation to the food crops.

English

Consumption of food crops contaminated with heavy metals is a major food chain route for human exposure. In the present study, vegetables grown in the sewage and tube well water irrigation are Raphanus sativus, Daucus carrota and Brassica rapa. Concentration of Cd, Pb and Ni was significantly higher in sewage irrigated soil at all the four depths (0-15, 15-30, 30-45 and 45-60 cm), respectively. Cadmium, Lead and Nickel concentration are higher at the surface horizons and it decreases sharply with depth in both tube well and sewage irrigated soils. Extent of heavy metal built up in sewage irrigated soils was significant in both 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth. Higher concentration of Pb, Cd and Ni, were observed in the roots of all crops grown in sewage irrigated soils compared to that of crops grown on tube well irrigated soils. Sewage water irrigation has a great potential to contaminate the soil which may lead to the accumulation of heavy metals in crop plants and may cause harmful effect on animals and plants. Results, indicate that, long term and indiscriminate application of sewage water, which contains heavy metals may cause accumulation of heavy metals in surface and sub-surface soils and the buildup of heavy metals on soil profile may prove harmful not only to plants, but also to consumers of the harvested crops. Key words: Crops, heavy metals, water, sewage, tube well.

Human health risk from Heavy metal via food crops consumption with wastewater irrigation practices in Pakistan

The current study was designed to investigate the potential human health risks associated with consumption of food crops contaminated with toxic heavy metals. Cadmium (Cd) concentration in surface soils; Cd, lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) in the irrigation water and food crops were above permissible limits. The accumulation factor (AF) was >1 for manganese (Mn) and Pb in different food crops. The Health Risk Index (HRI) was >1 for Pb in all food crops irrigated with wastewater and tube well water. HRI >1 was also recorded for Cd in all selected vegetables; and for Mn in Spinacia oleracea irrigated with wastewater. All wastewater irrigated samples (soil and food crops) exhibited high relative contamination level as compared to samples irrigated with tube well water. Our results emphasized the need for pretreatment of wastewater and routine monitoring in order to avoid contamination of food crops from the wastewater irrigation system.

Consumption of Indigenous and Traditional Food Crops: Perceptions and Realities from South Africa

Strategies adopted to address ongoing food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition, particularly in developing countries, narrow the food supply base by using technological options that neglect indigenous and traditional food crop systems. These crops are commonly being labeled as “poor people's food” by South African consumers. The question that arises is whether this categorization is justified and what interventions are needed to unlock the potential of these crops in improving household food security levels. Survey data of 600 African households in the North West Province of South Africa was used for the analysis of the consumption patterns of several traditional and indigenous food crops. The results show that the link between income and the consumption of these food crops is more nuanced.

Co‐expression of Arabidopsis transcription factor, AtMYB12, and soybean isoflavone synthase, GmIFS1, genes in tobacco leads to enhanced biosynthesis of isoflavones and flavonols resulting in osteoprotective activity

Isoflavones, a group of flavonoids, restricted almost exclusively to family Leguminosae are known to exhibit anticancerous and anti-osteoporotic activities in animal systems and have been a target for metabolic engineering in commonly consumed food crops. Earlier efforts based on the expression of legume isoflavone synthase (IFS) genes in nonlegume plant species led to the limited success in terms of isoflavone content in transgenic tissue due to the limitation of substrate for IFS enzyme. In this work to overcome this limitation, the activation of multiple genes of flavonoid pathway using Arabidopsis transcription factor AtMYB12 has been carried out. We developed transgenic tobacco lines constitutively co-expressing AtMYB12 and GmIFS1 (soybean IFS) genes or independently and carried out their phytochemical and molecular analyses. The leaves of co-expressing transgenic lines were found to have elevated flavonol content along with the accumulation of substantial amount of genistein glycoconjugates being at the highest levels that could be engineered in tobacco leaves till date. Oestrogen-deficient (ovariectomized, Ovx) mice fed with leaf extract from transgenic plant co-expressing AtMYB12 and GmIFS1 but not wild-type extract exhibited significant conservation of trabecular microarchitecture, reduced osteoclast number and expression of osteoclastogenic genes, higher total serum antioxidant levels and increased uterine oestrogenicity compared with Ovx mice treated with vehicle (control). The skeletal effect of the transgenic extract was comparable to oestrogen-treated Ovx mice. Together, our results establish an efficient strategy for successful pathway engineering of isoflavones and other flavonoids in crop plants and provide a direct evidence of improved osteoprotective effect of transgenic plant extract.

Uptake and accumulation of four PPCP/EDCs in two leafy vegetables

Many pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in reclaimed water, leading to concerns of human health risks from the consumption of food crops irrigated with reclaimed water. This study evaluated the potential for plant uptake and accumulation of four commonly occurring PPCP/EDCs, i.e., bisphenol A (BPA), diclofenac sodium (DCL), naproxen (NPX), and 4-nonylphenol (NP), by lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and collards (Brassica oleracea) in hydroponic culture, using 14C-labeled compounds. In both plant species, plant accumulation followed the order of BPA > NP > DCL > NPX and accumulation in roots was much greater than in leaves and stems. Concentrations of 14C-PPCP/EDCs in plant tissues ranged from 0.22 ± 0.03 to 927 ± 213 ng/g, but nearly all 14C-residue was non-extractable. PPCP/EDCs, particularly BPA and NP, were also extensively transformed in the nutrient solution. Dietary uptake of these PPCP/EDCs by humans was predicted to be negligible.