Airborne PET nanoplastics alter tobacco’s chemical risk

M Miao-Miao Tan (Shandong Key Laboratory of Synergistic Control of Complex Multi-Media Pollution, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University) X Xiao-Dong Sun (Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering) Y Yue Wang J Jian-Lu Duan (Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering) J Jing-Ya Ma (Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering) X Xiao-Yu Liu (Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy) M Mei-Yan Liu (Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering) Y Yu-Chen Sun (Shandong Key Laboratory of Synergistic Control of Complex Multi-Media Pollution, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University) R Rong-Xiang Xing (Shandong Key Laboratory of Synergistic Control of Complex Multi-Media Pollution, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University) S Shu-Guang Wang W Wei Chen X Xian-Zheng Yuan (Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering)

Abstract

Atmospheric micro(nano)plastics (MNPs), including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), enter plants via leaves, accumulating in tissues. Foliar PET nanoplastic exposure alters Nicotiana benthamiana nicotine biosynthesis, favoring the more potent (S)-isomer even without growth inhibition. This accumulation reveals a contamination pathway for combustible consumer products, demonstrating that MNPs-induced alteration of a plant’s endogenous biochemistry represents a significant and previously uncharacterized risk to agricultural sustainability and human health.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 51
Published December 23, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (12)

M

Miao-Miao Tan

Shandong Key Laboratory of Synergistic Control of Complex Multi-Media Pollution, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University

X

Xiao-Dong Sun

Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering

Y

Yue Wang

J

Jian-Lu Duan

Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering

J

Jing-Ya Ma

Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering

X

Xiao-Yu Liu

Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy

M

Mei-Yan Liu

Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering

Y

Yu-Chen Sun

Shandong Key Laboratory of Synergistic Control of Complex Multi-Media Pollution, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University

R

Rong-Xiang Xing

Shandong Key Laboratory of Synergistic Control of Complex Multi-Media Pollution, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University

S

Shu-Guang Wang

W

Wei Chen

X

Xian-Zheng Yuan

Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering