Scientists have found that certain crops easily absorb pharmaceuticals and personal care products, or PPCPs. Those chemical likely come from irrigating fields with recycled water or use fertilizer made from treated sewage.
A team from the University of Toledo in Ohio tested soybeans' ability to absorb a variety of PPCPs and found that the chemicals tend to accumulate in the plant most easily by way of contaminated water.
Environmental scientist Chenxi Wu at Toledo believes toxicology tests should follow this study to determine the effect PPCPs have on the plants themselves and the animals that eat contaminated plants.
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