Study Highlights Agricultural Contaminants of Emerging Concern

A new international study offers insights into the health risks posed by crops’ absorption of “contaminants of emerging concern” and flags knowledge gaps, according to McGill University. The list of emerging contaminants includes pharmaceuticals, microplastics, engineered nanomaterials, and PFAS (commonly known as “forever chemicals”). Researchers warn that even when present at very low concentrations, these chemicals can subtly alter plant physiology, disrupt soil health, and pose wider environmental and human health risks. This review study considered how contaminants move through soil and plant tissue, how environmental conditions affect exposure to them, and how they accumulate in edible crops. Researchers say that concerning knowledge gaps exist regarding the interaction of chemical mixtures, sublethal impacts, and long-term accumulation of contaminants.