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Exfoliating microplastics intensifies heavy metal uptake and physiological stress in wastewater-irrigated chili plants

International Journal of Phytoremediation 2026 Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Hajra Kanwal, Hajra Kanwal, Mujahid Farid, Mujahid Farid, Hajra Kanwal, Hajra Kanwal, Hajra Kanwal, Hajra Kanwal, Qudrat Ullah, Mujahid Farid, Qudrat Ullah, Qudrat Ullah, Qudrat Ullah, Mujahid Farid, Mujahid Farid, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Munir, Waqas Haider, Waqas Haider, Waqas Haider, Waqas Haider, Qudrat Ullah, Waqas Haider, Waqas Haider, Mujahid Farid, Muhammad Munir, Mujahid Farid, Mujahid Farid, Mujahid Farid, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Zubair, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Zaki Ul Zaman Asam, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Shafaqat Ali Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Muhammad Munir, Muhammad Munir, Muhammad Munir, Muhammad Munir, Shafaqat Ali, Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali Shafaqat Ali

Summary

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics from exfoliating personal care products interact with heavy metals in wastewater-irrigated chili plants. They found that the combination of microplastics and contaminated wastewater significantly reduced plant growth while increasing the uptake of cadmium, mercury, and lead into plant tissues. The study suggests that microplastics from personal care products may worsen heavy metal contamination risks in crops grown with recycled wastewater.

Polymers

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics from personal care products and heavy metals (HMs) in wastewater pose significant threats to crop health in peri-urban agricultural areas. This study evaluates the interactive effects of contaminated wastewater with Cd, Hg, Pb and polyethylene microplastics (MPs) from exfoliating personal care products on Capsicum annuum. Plant growth parameters (e.g.,height, biomass, leaf number) were reduced with increasing wastewater and MPs levels, and the observed reduction rates were 71-82%. at SWW (100%) + MPs (5 g/L), accompanied by 51-72% loss in photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids) and 74-85% decrease in soluble proteins compared to the control. Oxidative stress markers such as MDA increased by 124-150% and H2O2 by 180-230%, at SWW 100% + MPs (5 g/L) compared to the control. Antioxidant enzyme activities amplified at moderate stress levels (SWW 50%) before declining by 18-20% at higher levels (compared to peak activity), indicating failure to acclimate. Mechanistically, HMs accretion was root-dominant and significantly increased in levels in high stress conditions, with increased HMs uptake facilitated by MPs ranging 11-23% (low MPs: 11-15%, high MPs: 18-23%) at high stress conditions. These findings underscore the need for MPs removal from wastewater to mitigate phytotoxicity and enhance crop safety in contaminated agroecosystems.

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