We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of microplastics and cadmium on growth rate, photosynthetic pigment content and antioxidant enzymes of duckweed (Lemma minor)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and cadmium on duckweed growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activity. The study found that microplastics at 50 mg/L caused the most severe growth inhibition and highest cadmium bioaccumulation in duckweed, while antioxidant enzymes showed complex dose-dependent responses suggesting that microplastics can alter heavy metal toxicity in aquatic plants.
Cadmium (Cd) and polyethylene (PE) seriously contaminate the aquatic environment and threaten human health. Many studies have reported the toxic effects of Cd and PE on plants, whereas few have reported the combined contamination of these two pollutants. In this study, duckweed (Lemma minor) was used as an indicator to explore the effect of PE microplastics (PE-MPs) at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 mg/L on tolerance to 1 mg/L Cd. The results showed that different concentrations of PE-MPs inhibited the growth rate and chlorophyll content of duckweed to different degrees, both of which were minimal at 50 mg/L PE-MPs, 0.11 g/d, and 0.32 mg/g, respectively. The highest Cd enrichment (7.77 mg/kg) and bioaccumulation factors (94.22) of duckweed were detected when Cd was co-exposed with 50 mg/L of PE-MPs. Catalase and peroxidase activity first decreased and then increased with increasing PE-MPs concentrations, showing "hormesis effects", with minimum values of 11.47 U/g and 196.00 U/g, respectively. With increasing concentrations of PE-MPs, the effect on superoxide dismutase activity increased and then declined, peaking at 162.05 U/g, and displaying an "inverted V" trend. The amount of malondialdehyde rose with different PE-MPs concentrations. This research lay a foundation for using duckweed to purify water contaminated with MPs and heavy metals.
More Papers Like This
Influence of cadmium and microplastics on physiological responses, ultrastructure and rhizosphere microbial community of duckweed
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the combined effects of cadmium and polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics on duckweed, an aquatic plant. Interestingly, the study found that microplastics combined with cadmium actually reduced the heavy metal's toxicity to the plant compared to cadmium exposure alone, while also increasing the diversity of beneficial microbes in the root zone.
Microplastic modulates cadmium toxicity in duckweed: Insights into metal uptakes and oxidative stress in the plant
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microplastics in water reduced duckweed's uptake of toxic cadmium by adsorbing the metal onto plastic fibers and causing it to settle into sediments rather than enter plants. While this may seem protective, it highlights a troubling dual role: microplastics can redistribute heavy metals through aquatic systems in ways that affect long-term contamination patterns.
Biochemical and physiological insights into Lemna minor as a remediator of multi metal–microplastic contaminated waters
AI summary Read the abstract
This 42-day experiment tested how common duckweed (Lemna minor) responds to water contaminated with multiple heavy metals and polyethylene microplastics, finding that combined exposure severely stunted growth, depleted chlorophyll, and triggered major oxidative stress. Despite the damage, duckweed accumulated high concentrations of both heavy metals and microplastics in its tissue, suggesting potential for phytoremediation of contaminated water. Understanding how plants cope with — and absorb — these combined pollutants is important for both ecological risk assessment and developing water cleanup strategies.
The effects of microplastics on the growth and photosynthesis of Lemna minor
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed duckweed (Lemna minor) to polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microplastics at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 mg/L and measured effects on growth, photosynthetic yield, pigment content, and RuBisCO protein expression. PMMA-MPs were found to be more harmful than PS-MPs, causing greater reductions in chlorophyll content and stronger suppression of RuBisCO, though neither treatment significantly altered maximum quantum yield of PSII.
The effect of microplastics on oxidative stress appearance and activity of antioxidant enzymes in duckweed (Lemna minor L.)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the effects of microplastics on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity in ducks, finding that microplastic exposure triggered measurable changes in oxidative balance and enzymatic defenses. The study contributes evidence that microplastic ingestion induces biochemical stress responses in avian species exposed through contaminated aquatic environments.
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.