Integrated Analysis of Pollution Characteristic and Ecotoxicological Effect Reveals the Fate of Lithium in Soil-Plant Systems: A Challenge to Global Sustainability

Lithium, as an emerging contaminant, lacks sufficient information regarding its environmental and ecotoxicological implications within soil-plant systems. Employing maize, wheat, pea, and water spinach, we conducted a thorough investigation utilizing a multispecies, multiparameter, and multitechnique approach to assess the pollution characteristics and ecotoxicological effects of lithium. The findings suggested that lithium might persist in an amorphous state, altering surface functional groups and chemical bonds, although semiquantitative analysis was unattainable. Notably, lithium demonstrated high mobility, with a mild acid-soluble fraction accounting for 29.66–97.02% of the total, while a minor quantity of exogenous lithium tended to be a residual fraction. Plant analysis revealed that in 10–80 mg Li/kg soils lithium significantly enhanced certain growth parameters of maize and pea, and the calculated LC50 values for aerial part length across the four plant species varied from 173.58 to 315.63 mg Li/kg. Lithium accumulation in the leaves was up to 1127.61–4719.22 mg/kg, with its inorganic form accounting for 18.60–94.59%, and the cytoplasm fraction (38.24–89.70%) predominantly harbored lithium. Furthermore, the model displayed that growth stimulation might be attributed to the influence of lithium on phytohormone levels. Water spinach exhibited superior accumulation capacity and tolerance to lithium stress and was a promising candidate for phytoremediation strategies. Our findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of lithium’s environmental behavior within soil-plant systems, particularly within the context of global initiatives toward carbon neutrality.