A new international study offers insights into the health risks posed by crops’ absorption of “contaminants of emerging concern” (CECs) and flags knowledge gaps the authors say must be addressed. CECs include pharmaceuticals, microplastics, engineered nanomaterials and PFAS (commonly known as “forever chemicals”). The 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.
“What’s new here is the holistic perspective: we bring together evidence across chemical classes, environmental pathways, plant uptake mechanisms and societal impacts,” said Audrey Moores, co-author of the meta-study and Professor of Chemistry at McGill.
“This review highlights major knowledge gaps, including the effects of chemical mixtures, long-term accumulation and sublethal impacts not captured by standard toxicity tests,” she said. “Crucially, we show that reducing contamination at its source, through smarter chemical design and sustainable production, is essential, alongside improved regulation and monitoring.”