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Micro- and nanoplastics in terrestrial plants: uptake, accumulation, and impacts on growth and physiology
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Tiny plastic particles from broken-down waste are building up in soil and getting absorbed by plants through their roots and leaves, according to this review of existing research. Once inside, these particles can stunt seed sprouting, weaken root growth, and interfere with photosynthesis (how plants make energy from sunlight), which matters because these are the same crops we eat. Since the plastic can travel from soil into plant tissue, this raises questions about how much may be passing into our food supply and, ultimately, into us.
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are increasingly recognized as serious environmental pollutants, especially in soils, water, and air. These tiny plastic particles result from the degradation of larger plastic waste, often due to inadequate waste management. Although many studies have focused on their effects in aquatic ecosystems, the impacts of MPs and NPs on terrestrial plants and ecosystems remain less understood. This review summarizes current knowledge on the uptake, translocation and accumulation of MPs and NPs by plants and their associated microorganisms. The review discusses how these plastic particles enter plants through roots, leaves, and other pathways, their movement within plant tissues, and their accumulation. It also shows how plants may limit the mobility of these particles and how plant-microbial interactions can support phytoremediation processes. The effects of MPs and NPs on plant health are examined, including changes in seed germination, root development, and biomass production. At the molecular level, impacts on photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, reactive oxygen species generation, oxidative stress, and nutrient uptake pathways are also considered. Understanding these interactions is essential for assessing the risks posed by plastic pollution to agriculture and natural ecosystems and for developing strategies to mitigate their negative effects on plant growth and productivity.
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Micro/Nanoplastics in Agriculture: Uptake, Translocation and Bioaccumulation in Plants and Their Ecological Implications
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Tiny plastic particles from pollution are building up in farm soils and getting absorbed by plants through their roots, then traveling up into the leaves, fruits, and other parts we eat. This review of existing research shows these plastics can interfere with how plants grow and take up nutrients, and their presence in edible crops raises real concerns about how much plastic might be ending up on our dinner plates. Scientists still need better, standardized tools to detect these particles and develop ways to keep them out of our food supply.
Microplastics in Plants: Impacts on Physiology, Food Safety, and Environmental Sustainability
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Tiny plastic bits, called microplastics, are showing up in soil everywhere and getting absorbed into crops through their roots, according to this review of existing research. This can stunt plant growth and stress the plants, and it means these plastics may end up on your plate when you eat fruits and vegetables. Scientists are still working out how much this affects human health, but the findings suggest we should pay closer attention to plastic pollution in farmland.
Particulate plastics-plant interaction in soil and its implications: A review
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This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics in soil interact with plants, including uptake through roots, accumulation in plant tissues, and effects on growth, nutrient absorption, and soil microbial communities. The study highlights that these plastic particles can alter soil structure and chemistry in ways that affect crop development, raising concerns about food safety and agricultural productivity.
Micro- and nanoplastics-induced stress in plants: uptake, physiological disruption, and toxicity mechanisms
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This review paper summarizes existing research on how tiny plastic particles (called microplastics and nanoplastics) are absorbed by plants and damage their health. These plastic particles can build up in plant tissues and disrupt how plants grow and function, which matters because we eat these plants. Since plastic pollution keeps breaking down into smaller pieces that plants absorb, this could eventually affect the safety and quality of our food supply.
Tracking Nano- and Microplastics in Plants: Uptake Pathways, Tissue Distribution, and Analytical Strategies from Microscopy to Spectroscopy
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Tiny plastic particles from soil, water, and air can get absorbed by plant roots and leaves, then travel through the plant into stems and leaves we eventually eat, and evidence suggests this can stress plants by damaging photosynthesis and causing cell damage. This review rounds up the science on how researchers detect these plastic particles in plant tissue, noting it's still tricky to tell plastic bits apart from normal plant material under the microscope. The bigger takeaway for consumers: since crops can take up these particles from contaminated environments, understanding this process is a key step toward figuring out how much plastic might be ending up on our
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