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Advances in transport and toxicity of nanoparticles in plants
Summary
Researchers reviewed how nanoparticles released into the environment are absorbed, transported, and accumulated by land plants, with evidence that they can stunt plant growth, damage cell structures, and cause DNA damage through oxidative stress. Because some of these plants are edible crops, nanoparticle contamination in soil poses a potential pathway for human health exposure.
In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has made significant impacts on the industry. With the wide application of nanotechnology, nanoparticles (NPs) are inevitably released into the environment, and their fate, behavior and toxicity are indeterminate. Studies have indicated that NPs can be absorbed, transported and accumulated by terrestrial plants. The presence of NPs in certain edible plants may decrease harvests and threaten human health. Understanding the transport and toxicity of NPs in plants is the basis for risk assessment. In this review, we summarize the transportation of four types of NPs in terrestrial plants, and the phytotoxicity induced by NPs, including their impacts on plant growth and cell structure, and the underlying mechanisms such as inducing oxidative stress response, and causing genotoxic damage. We expect to provide reference for future research on the effects of NPs on plants.
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