Journal article
Differential uptake of Ag nanoparticle forms by wheat across field soils
Environmental Science: Nano, Vol.Advanced access
15-Sep-2026
Abstract
Understanding the environmental risks of engineered silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is complicated by transformation processes which occur in soil, such as dissolution and sulphidation, generating diverse Ag forms, altering bioavailability and uptake by organisms. Despite this, integrated studies linking nanoparticle speciation to plant uptake in soil systems remain limited, and gaps persist in understanding Ag transformations as a function of soil type and their consequences for bioavailability. Using complementary techniques we compared the speciation (XAS and spICP-MS), bioavailability, and uptake of three Ag forms, two Ag NPs (Ag NP, Ag 2 S NP) and AgNO 3 (all at 10 mg kg −1 ), in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L) grown in three different field soils over 27 days. Results showed that Ag forms were differentially bioavailable (Ag NPs >/≈ AgNO 3 > Ag 2 S NP), and that soil type can have a pronounced influence on the extent of Ag uptake (approx. 7- to 15-fold variation for NPs across soils). Notably Ag 2 S NPs, though considered “less mobile”, can be more bioavailable to wheat than other Ag forms in some soil contexts. XAS speciation analysis revealed slower transformation dynamics in Woburn soil that may influence the overall pool of bioavailable Ag. While no single soil property fully explained the observed patterns, these findings indicate that intrinsic nanoparticle properties alone are not always sufficient to predict environmental behaviour in soil systems.
Details
- Title
- Differential uptake of Ag nanoparticle forms by wheat across field soils
- Authors
- Amaia Green Etxabe (Corresponding Author) - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyRudo Verweij - Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamNathaniel J. Clark - University of PlymouthRyo Sekine - University of the Sunshine CoastSamuel Harrison - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyWilliam Bennett - Griffith UniversityCarolin Schultz - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyStephen Short - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyMarianne Matzke - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyDavid Spurgeon - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyClaus Svendsen - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyAlex Robinson - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyGeert Cornelis - Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesSarah Thacker - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyAlexander G. Hunt - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyHayley Guyatt - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyPatrick Keenan - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyM. Glória Pereira - UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyElma Lahive - UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
- Publication details
- Environmental Science: Nano, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- DOI
- 10.1039/D6EN00494F
- ISSN
- 2051-8161
- Copyright note
- © 2026 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.
- Data Availability
- The datasets generated and/or analysed during this study are included in the Supplementary Information.
- Grant note
- H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (2014-660565) / Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (646002) / HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council (101057014)
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991260356902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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