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From Soil to Table: Pathways, Influencing Factors, and Human Health Risks of Micro- and Nanoplastic Uptake by Plants in Terrestrial Ecosystems
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This review traces the pathways by which micro- and nanoplastics move from soil into food crops in terrestrial ecosystems. Researchers found that plants absorb these particles through roots and atmospheric deposition, with adverse effects on plant growth and development, raising concerns about food chain contamination and human health risks from consuming affected crops.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are a new type of pollutant that are widely present in terrestrial ecosystems due to agricultural plastics, sludge use, deposition, and litter degradation. Plants can absorb them through the soil and atmosphere, with adverse effects on plant growth and development. Several studies have reported the effects of MNPs on plant physiology, biochemistry, and toxicity. However, the food chain risk of plant uptake of MNPs has not been systematically studied. This review synthesizes current research on plant MNP pollution, focusing on the uptake and transport mechanisms of MNPs by plants, influencing factors, and health hazards. The size, type, and surface charge characteristics of MNPs, as well as environmental conditions, are key factors affecting MNP absorption and accumulation in plants. Furthermore, when MNP-enriched plants are consumed by humans and animals, the accumulated MNPs can diffuse through the bloodstream to various organs, impairing physiological functions and causing a range of health problems. While a comprehensive, traceable investigation of the transmission of MNPs through the terrestrial food chain remains unconfirmed, health risk signals are unequivocal—dietary intake is the primary route of human exposure to MNPs, with direct evidence of their bioaccumulation in human tissues. Addressing this critical research gap, i.e., systematically verifying the full terrestrial food chain translocation of MNPs, is therefore pivotal for conducting robust and comprehensive assessments of the food safety and health risks posed by MNPs. This study analyzed a total of 154 literature sources, providing important theoretical insights into the absorption, transport, and accumulation of MNPs in plants, as well as the health risks associated with their transfer to humans through the food chain. It is expected to provide valuable reference for the research on the transfer of MNPs in the “soil-plant-human” chain.
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This review synthesizes current research on how terrestrial plants take up micro- and nanoplastics from contaminated soil, finding that particles can enter through roots, accumulate in plant tissues, block root function, and trigger oxidative damage that stunts growth. These pathways mean that food crops grown in microplastic-contaminated soils could expose humans to plastic particles through the diet, in addition to the harm caused to agricultural productivity.
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This review pulls together what scientists currently know about tiny plastic particles moving from soil into plants, and potentially up the food chain to animals and humans. While plants can absorb these particles through their roots, researchers still aren't sure how much actually ends up on our plates or what it means for our health, more real-world studies are needed.
Ecotoxicological effects of micro- and nanoplastics on terrestrial food web from plants to human beings
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This review examined the ecotoxicological effects of micro- and nanoplastics across the terrestrial food web, from plants to humans. Researchers found that plants can take up these particles through roots and leaves, soil organisms are affected by altered soil properties, and the potential for transfer through the food chain raises concerns about human dietary exposure to micro- and nanoplastics.
Uptake, transport and accumulation of micro- and nano-plastics in terrestrial plants and health risk associated with their transfer to food chain - A mini review.
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This review examines how micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) are taken up, transported, and accumulated in terrestrial plants, and assesses the associated health risks as MNPs transfer through the food chain from contaminated soil and water environments.
A Systematic Review on Emission, Accumulation, Mechanism, and Toxicity Perspective of Micro‐Nanoplastics in the Soil–Plant Nexus
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This systematic review examines how micro- and nanoplastics enter soil, accumulate in plants, and move through the soil-plant system. The research shows that microplastics alter soil properties, affect plant growth, and can be taken up by crop roots and transported to edible plant parts. This is a direct concern for human health because it means microplastics in agricultural soil may end up in the fruits and vegetables people consume.
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