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Nanoplastics and Microplastics in Agricultural Systems: Effects on Plants and Implications for Human Consumption
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This review summarizes existing research on how nanoplastics and microplastics enter agricultural soil through irrigation, plastic mulch, and sewage sludge, then accumulate in crops that people eat. The particles can also carry other harmful substances like pesticides and heavy metals into plants, raising concerns about long-term health effects from chronic dietary exposure.
Nanoplastics and microplastics in agricultural systems have raised significant concerns due to their effects on plant health and potential risks to human consumption. This review examined these pollutants’ origins, behavior, and impacts in agricultural environments, emphasizing their primary contamination pathways, such as irrigation, plastic mulching, and sewage sludge application. It explored the transport, accumulation, and interactions of these particles in the soil, including their ability to adsorb other contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals. The effects on plant physiology and potential toxicity were highlighted, along with the implications for food quality and safety. Chronic exposure to these pollutants through the food chain posed notable health concerns for humans, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue. Research gaps, such as the toxicokinetics of nanoplastics and microplastics in plants and humans, were identified, underscoring the need for further investigation. The review also presented mitigation strategies, including improved waste management and the development of sustainable agricultural practices.
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Micro and nano plastics (MNPs) in agricultural soils: challenges for food security and environmental health
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This review examined how micro- and nanoplastics enter agricultural soils through sources like plastic mulch, wastewater irrigation, and sewage sludge, reaching concentrations of up to 10,000 particles per kilogram. The study found that these plastics impair plant nutrient absorption, photosynthesis, and growth, while also carrying toxic pollutants that can transfer through the food chain to humans.
Effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on agricultural plants
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This review examines the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on agricultural plants, covering sources such as plastic mulch films, sewage sludge, and irrigation water, along with uptake mechanisms and observed physiological impacts. Micro- and nanoplastics reduce soil water-holding capacity, inhibit plant growth, cause oxidative stress, and impair seed germination; the smallest particles can enter roots and translocate to shoots via the vascular system. The presence of plastics and their additive chemicals in edible plant tissues raises concerns for both agricultural productivity and food safety.
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.
Micro/Nanoplastics in plantation agricultural products: behavior process, phytotoxicity under biotic and abiotic stresses, and controlling strategies
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This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics from sources like plastic mulch and wastewater contaminate agricultural crops, harming plant growth, photosynthesis, and food quality. The findings matter for human health because these plastic particles can accumulate in the fruits and vegetables we eat, carrying toxic chemicals along with them into our diet.
Micro (nano) plastic pollution: The ecological influence on soil-plant system and human health.
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This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics affect soil health, plant growth, and food quality, finding that these particles accumulate in plant root systems and can reduce crop yields and alter nutritional content. Since contaminated soil and water are increasingly delivering microplastics to food crops, these findings are directly relevant to agricultural food safety.
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