A global estimate of multiecosystem photosynthesis losses under microplastic pollution
Abstract
Understanding how ecosystems respond to ubiquitous microplastic (MP) pollution is crucial for ensuring global food security. Here, we conduct a multiecosystem meta-analysis of 3,286 data points and reveal that MP exposure leads to a global reduction in photosynthesis of 7.05 to 12.12% in terrestrial plants, marine algae, and freshwater algae. These reductions align with those estimated by a constructed machine learning model using current MP pollution levels, showing that MP exposure reduces the chlorophyll content of photoautotrophs by 10.96 to 12.84%. Model estimates based on the identified MP-photosynthesis nexus indicate annual global losses of 4.11 to 13.52% (109.73 to 360.87 MT·y −1 ) for main crops and 0.31 to 7.24% (147.52 to 3415.11 MT C·y −1 ) for global aquatic net primary productivity induced by MPs. Under scenarios of efficient plastic mitigation, e.g., a ~13% global reduction in environmental MP levels, the MP-induced photosynthesis losses are estimated to decrease by ~30%, avoiding a global loss of 22.15 to 115.73 MT·y −1 in main crop production and 0.32 to 7.39 MT·y −1 in seafood production. These findings underscore the urgency of integrating plastic mitigation into global hunger and sustainability initiatives.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (17)
Ruijie Zhu
School of Environment, Nanjing University, State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling
Zhaoying Zhang
International Institute for Earth System Sciences, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing University
Naichi Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Huan Zhong
Fanqi Zhou
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University
Xiao Zhang
Cun Liu
State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yingnan Huang
State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuan Yuan
Yujun Wang
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Low-Carbon Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering
Chengjun Li
Huahong Shi
State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University Shanghai
Matthias C. Rillig
Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin
Fei Dang
State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hongqiang Ren
Nanjing University , , ,
Yongguang Zhang
International Institute for Earth System Sciences, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing University
Baoshan Xing