Microplastics and PFAS are two of the most persistent pollution challenges facing our environment. New research suggests their impacts may also be interconnected.
A 2026 study published in Eco-Environment & Health found that certain types of microplastics in agricultural soil can significantly alter how plants absorb per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.”
The findings add another layer to our understanding of microplastic pollution: plastic particles may not only represent a contaminant themselves, but may also influence how other pollutants move through the environment and ultimately enter the food chain.
Studying Microplastics and PFAS Together
Microplastics and PFAS can both accumulate in agricultural environments, meaning plants may be exposed to multiple contaminants simultaneously.
Researchers at Nanjing University examined what happened when pak choi was grown in soil containing PFAS alongside three different types of microplastics: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polylactic acid (PLA), and tire wear particles (TWP).
The researchers measured how the presence of different plastic particles affected the plants’ uptake of 10 different PFAS compounds. The results showed that the type of microplastic present mattered significantly.
PVC Microplastics Increased PFAS Accumulation by Up to 70%
Across the concentrations tested, PVC microplastics significantly increased PFAS accumulation in the shoots of pak choi. Plants exposed to PVC accumulated approximately 1.31 to 1.70 times as much PFAS as plants in the control group.
The researchers found that exposure to PVC and PFAS together increased the expression of genes associated with aquaporins, proteins involved in transporting water and other molecules through plant cell membranes. Researchers believe these changes may have helped facilitate the increased uptake and movement of PFAS through the plants.
This means microplastic pollution may do more than introduce plastic particles into soil. Under certain conditions, it could alter plant biology in ways that affect the movement of other environmental contaminants.
Not All Microplastics Behaved the Same Way
Despite the significant uptake in PFAS accumulation with PVC, not all materials behaved the same way. PLA did not significantly change overall PFAS accumulation, although exposure affected plant growth and altered lipid and amino acid metabolism. Tire wear particles actually reduced PFAS concentrations in pak choi shoots by approximately 37% to 54%.
At first glance, that might sound beneficial. However, researchers attributed much of the reduction to the toxic effects the tire particles had on the plants themselves. Tire wear particles reduced plant biomass by approximately 9% to 16% and lowered transpiration, interfering with normal plant growth and water transport.
In other words, lower PFAS uptake did not necessarily mean the tire particles were harmless. The plants were experiencing physiological stress that limited their ability to take up and transport contaminants.
Why the Findings Matter
Microplastics can coexist with PFAS, pesticides, heavy metals, and numerous other pollutants in water and soil. Understanding the risks associated with microplastic pollution therefore requires researchers to examine not only what plastic particles do on their own, but also how they interact with other contaminants.
Different plastic materials produced dramatically different outcomes, ranging from increased PFAS accumulation to metabolic stress and reduced plant growth. The researchers concluded that future assessments of microplastic pollution should account for the specific type of plastic involved rather than treating all microplastics as a single contaminant.
The findings also bring light to the risks that microplastics present to foods humans rely on. Microplastics exposure has been linked to various health concerns, and this research adds another layer into how humans can be exposed to microplastics, and how they may cause harm.
Microplastic Pollution Is Part of a Larger System
Research into microplastics continues to reveal that their environmental impact extends beyond the particles themselves.
Microplastics can move through waterways, accumulate in soil, interact with chemicals, and affect biological processes. This study adds evidence that some microplastics may also influence how persistent chemicals such as PFAS move from contaminated environments into living organisms.
More research will be necessary to determine how these interactions translate to real-world agricultural systems, different crops, varying soil conditions, and long-term human exposure. The study examined pak choi under controlled experimental conditions and should not be interpreted as evidence that PVC microplastics universally increase PFAS concentrations in all foods.
At CLEANR, we believe addressing microplastic pollution at its sources is an important part of reducing the amount of persistent synthetic material entering our water and broader environment. As researchers continue to uncover the interactions between microplastics and other contaminants, preventing unnecessary plastic pollution before it enters these systems becomes increasingly important.
Source: Gu, Q., Zhou, P., Kong, Y., et al. (2026). “Effects and mechanisms of microplastic types on plant uptake of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances.” Eco-Environment & Health, 5(1), 100216. DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2026.100216.