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Effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics and acid rain on physiology and growth of Lepidium sativum
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Researchers studied the combined effects of PET microplastics and acid rain on garden cress plants over 30 days. They found that both stressors negatively affected plant growth, triggered oxidative stress, and disrupted photosynthetic pigment production, with smaller microplastic particles causing the most harm. The combination of microplastics and acid rain produced compounding negative effects on plant physiology, suggesting these co-occurring environmental stressors may together threaten plant health.
This study evaluated the chronic toxicity (30 days) of different sizes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics (60-3000 μm) provided alone or in combination with acid rain, on garden cress (Lepidium sativum). Both biometrical and physiological traits have been evaluated: i) percentage inhibition of seed germination, plant height, leaf number and fresh biomass production; ii) oxidative stress responses (hydrogen peroxide; ascorbic acid and glutathione production); iii) impairment in photosynthetic machinery in term of pigments production; iv) aminolevulinic acid and proline production. Results highlighted that different sizes of PET, alone or in combination with acid rain, are able to negatively affect both biometrical and physiological plant traits. In particular, the lower size of microplastics is able to negatively affect growth and development, as well as to trigger the oxidative burst. Regarding the pigments production, PET coupled with acid rain, induced a higher production of Chl-b, and an inhibition of aminolevulinic acid.
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Researchers grew garden cress plants in soil contaminated with four types of microplastics and also exposed them to simulated acid rain, finding that combined exposure caused more plant damage than either stress alone. Both short- and long-term exposures were tested, with longer exposure causing more severe effects. The study shows that microplastic contamination interacts with other environmental stressors like acid rain to worsen damage to terrestrial plants.
Short-term physiological and biometrical responses of Lepidium sativum seedlings exposed to PET-made microplastics and acid rain
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Lepidium sativum seedlings treated with PET microplastics (different sizes) and acid rain showed size-dependent growth inhibition and oxidative stress responses; combined exposure to PET and acid rain produced additive or synergistic effects on germination inhibition and plant biomass.
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Researchers tested the effects of four common types of microplastics on garden cress plants and found that PVC was the most toxic, causing the greatest oxidative stress and growth inhibition. Both acute and chronic exposure to microplastics affected seed germination, plant height, biomass, and levels of stress-response compounds in the plants. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that microplastics can trigger oxidative damage in terrestrial plants, with implications for agricultural ecosystems.
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Researchers tested how three types of microplastics (PET, HDPE, and polyester) affect the growth and health of spring onion and okra plants. They found that all microplastic types reduced chlorophyll levels, increased oxidative stress, and stunted plant growth, with HDPE and polyester causing the most damage. The study highlights the potential ecological risks microplastics pose to vegetable crops grown in contaminated soil.
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