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Micro, Nano, and Biodegradable Plastics: Hidden Threats to Plant Health and Soil Function
Summary
Researchers reviewed how microplastics, nanoplastics, and biodegradable plastic particles disrupt plant health and soil function in agroecosystems, finding that these contaminants impair nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and redox balance while inducing oxidative stress, genotoxic effects, and soil property degradation with food safety implications.
Microplastics (MPs) (< 5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs) (< 100 nm) are emerging contaminants in agroecosystems, introduced primarily through irrigation, atmospheric deposition, and soil amendments. These particles compromise plant health and soil function by interfering with nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and redox balance. MPs can induce root shortening, oxidative stress, and cytogenetic abnormalities, while NPs, due to their small size and high surface reactivity, cause more pronounced genotoxic and biochemical disturbances. Growing concern also surrounds biodegradable microplastics (BMPs), which degrade into micro- and nanoplastics with comparable toxicity. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the uptake, translocation, and physiological effects of MPs, NPs, and BMPs in plants, focusing on oxidative stress, hormonal imbalance, and nutrient disruption. It further evaluates emerging remediation strategies, including microbial degradation, phytoremediation, and photocatalysis for mitigating plastic-induced stress. Key knowledge gaps regarding the accumulation of plastic particles in crops and their implications for food safety and ecosystem integrity are also highlighted. Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) disrupt plant health, affecting growth, nutrient uptake, and metabolism. MPs and NPs cause oxidative stress, alter enzymes, and degrade soil properties via absorption. Biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) derived from bioplastics pose risks similar to those of traditional microplastics. Extensive research is crucial for understanding the effects of MPs, NPs, and BMPs on soil and plants.