Meeting Abstract
The use of Bisphenol A (BPA) a synthetic high production volume compound used in plastics and epoxy resins has grown exponentially, while the consequences of this environmental contaminant is vaguely understood. Considering the ability of BPA to leach into its surroundings, along with its increased use, further studies are necessary to understand its comprehensive impact on the global system. Our study is concerned with the acute stress effects of BPA on terrestrial vegetation, by observing germination rate, root length, root behavior, and true leaf appearance in Brassica rapa (Wisconsin Fast Plant). Germination and early development were analyzed by continual exposure of seeds to BPA treatments of 0, 0.05, 0.25, 1, 10, 25, and 50 mg/L. Germination rate and success of germination showed no significant difference within or between any concentration. In our 48 hours post-germination measurements, the root lengths showed significant differences in mean length between treatments, with the 25mg/L and the 50mg/L treatments. The root behaviors observed were classified as normal or abnormal in their geotropic response, finding that in a concentration-dependent manner abnormal behavior increases. BPA is possibly interfering with auxin production and distribution in the root cap. The plants true leaf appearance at 96 hours decreased as the concentrations increased. The true leaf appearance provides a measure of plant health suggesting that the overall plant health declines as the concentration of BPA increases. The differences observed at the higher urban BPA concentrations may have significant effects on agriculture as well as wild plants. Further studies should be pursued to better understand the mechanistic and fitness effects of BPA.
