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Biochemical and physiological insights into Lemna minor as a remediator of multi metal–microplastic contaminated waters

BMC Plant Biology 2026 Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Mujahid Farid, Mujahid Farid, Mujahid Farid, Sufia Iram Irshad, Mujahid Farid, Qudrat Ullah, Qudrat Ullah, Qudrat Ullah, Sufia Iram Irshad, Mujahid Farid, Waqas Haider, Waqas Haider, Waqas Haider, Waqas Haider, Qudrat Ullah, Qudrat Ullah, Mujahid Farid, Waqas Haider, Mujahid Farid, Waqas Haider, Mujahid Farid, Mujahid Farid, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Muhammad (Mujeeb) Zubair, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Muhammad (Mujeeb) Zubair, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Muhammad Bilal Munir, Muhammad Bilal Munir, Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali, Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali

Summary

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.

Polymers

Study Type Environmental

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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