We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impacts of Plastics on Plant Development: Recent Advances and Future Research Directions
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes how microplastics and nanoplastics affect plant growth, from blocking seed germination and root development to causing oxidative stress and DNA damage in plant cells. Nanoplastics are small enough to be absorbed by roots and transported to stems, leaves, and even fruits. These findings are concerning for human health because they show that microplastics can enter the food supply through crops, creating a direct pathway for human exposure through plant-based foods.
Plastics have inundated the world, with microplastics (MPs) being small particles, less than 5 mm in size, originating from various sources. They pervade ecosystems such as freshwater and marine environments, soils, and the atmosphere. MPs, due to their small size and strong adsorption capacity, pose a threat to plants by inhibiting seed germination, root elongation, and nutrient absorption. The accumulation of MPs induces oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity in plants, which also impacts plant development, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, toxic accumulation, and metabolite production in plant tissues. Furthermore, roots can absorb nanoplastics (NPs), which are then distributed to stems, leaves, and fruits. As MPs and NPs harm organisms and ecosystems, they raise concerns about physical damage and toxic effects on animals, and the potential impact on human health via food webs. Understanding the environmental fate and effects of MPs is essential, along with strategies to reduce their release and mitigate consequences. However, a full understanding of the effects of different plastics, whether traditional or biodegradable, on plant development is yet to be achieved. This review offers an up-to-date overview of the latest known effects of plastics on plants.
More Papers Like This
Micro and nanoplastics pollution: Sources, distribution, uptake in plants, toxicological effects, and innovative remediation strategies for environmental sustainability
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics enter plants through roots, disrupt growth and photosynthesis, and cause oxidative stress that reduces crop yields. Because these plastic particles can move through plant tissues and into edible parts, they represent a potential pathway for microplastics to enter the human food supply.
Recent advances on microplastics/nanoplastics interaction with plant species: A concise review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes research on how microplastics and nanoplastics interact with plants, finding that plastic particles in soil can interfere with root uptake, germination, and crop yields depending on the type and concentration of plastic present. The findings are particularly relevant to human health because food crops grown in microplastic-contaminated agricultural soils may absorb or accumulate plastic particles, creating a direct dietary exposure route.
Micro (nano) plastics uptake, toxicity and detoxification in plants: Challenges and prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how micro and nanoplastics are taken up by plants, covering their toxic effects on growth and gene expression as well as potential detoxification strategies. Smaller nanoplastics can penetrate plant cell walls and accumulate in tissues, causing oxidative stress and genetic damage. The findings are important for human health because contaminated crops could transfer microplastics directly into the food supply.
Micro- and nanoplastics in terrestrial plants: uptake, accumulation, and impacts on growth and physiology
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on agricultural plants
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.