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Biochemical and physiological insights into Lemna minor as a remediator of multi metal–microplastic contaminated waters
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This 42-day experiment tested how common duckweed (Lemna minor) responds to water contaminated with multiple heavy metals and polyethylene microplastics, finding that combined exposure severely stunted growth, depleted chlorophyll, and triggered major oxidative stress. Despite the damage, duckweed accumulated high concentrations of both heavy metals and microplastics in its tissue, suggesting potential for phytoremediation of contaminated water. Understanding how plants cope with — and absorb — these combined pollutants is important for both ecological risk assessment and developing water cleanup strategies.
Aquatic ecosystems face escalating threats from heavy metals (HMs) and microplastics (MPs), which bioaccumulate and disrupt plant physiology, necessitating effective phytoremediation strategies. This study evaluated the impacts of synthetic wastewater (WW at 25%, 50%, 100%) containing Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and polyethylene MPs (0.5 g/L, 1 g/L) on Lemna minor in a 42-day hydroponic experiment. Morphological traits declined significantly, with fresh weight reduced by 92.33% and dry weight by 88.04% at 100% WW + 1 g MPs compared to controls. Photosynthetic pigments decreased up to 91.27% in total chlorophyll, while antioxidant enzymes surged (e.g., CAT by 533.18%, SOD by 423.81%). Markers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as H₂O₂ and MDA, increased by 108.06% and 154.52%, respectively, alongside HM accumulation exceeding the highest concentration for Cu. These findings elucidate synergistic stress mechanisms, highlighting L. minor potential for hyperaccumulating HM-MP, which informs sustainable wastewater treatment and ecosystem restoration practices.
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Effect of microplastics treated with heavy metals on physiological and biochemical stress parameters in duckweed (Lemna minor)
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Researchers investigated the effects of heavy metal-treated microplastics (a mixture of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene) on physiological and biochemical stress parameters in marine organisms, finding that metal-contaminated microplastics altered stress responses compared to untreated plastic particles. The study highlights how abiotic weathering of microplastics can increase their ecotoxicological hazard through metal co-contamination.
Phytoremediation potential of Lemna minor for removal of microplastics from aquatic environment
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Researchers investigated how the aquatic plant duckweed (Lemna minor) interacts with polyethylene microplastics, finding that the plant physically binds microplastics to its surface over time. The findings suggest duckweed has potential as a low-cost phytoremediation tool for removing microplastics from contaminated water.
Effects of microplastics and cadmium on growth rate, photosynthetic pigment content and antioxidant enzymes of duckweed (Lemma minor)
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Researchers examined the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and cadmium on duckweed growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activity. The study found that microplastics at 50 mg/L caused the most severe growth inhibition and highest cadmium bioaccumulation in duckweed, while antioxidant enzymes showed complex dose-dependent responses suggesting that microplastics can alter heavy metal toxicity in aquatic plants.
Long-term interactions between microplastics and floating macrophyte Lemna minor: The potential for phytoremediation of microplastics in the aquatic environment
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Researchers studied whether the floating aquatic plant Lemna minor could be used to remove microplastics from water through a 12-week experiment. The plant tolerated high concentrations of polyethylene microplastics without significant health effects after an initial adjustment period, and the particles adhered readily to the plant biomass. The findings suggest that duckweed-based systems could offer a nature-based approach for capturing microplastics from contaminated waterways.
The Effect of Single and Combined Stress of Microplastics and Heavy Metals on Growth, Biochemical Components and Antioxidant Activity of Lemna gibba (Duckweed)
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Combined exposure of duckweed (Lemna gibba) to polypropylene or ABS microplastics alongside heavy metals zinc, copper, and nickel produced synergistic inhibitory effects on growth, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant capacity exceeding single-pollutant impacts. The study highlights that co-occurring microplastics and heavy metals—common in real aquatic environments—represent a compounded ecotoxicological threat to freshwater primary producers.
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