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Combined Exposure to Polyethylene Microplastics and Copper Affects Growth and Antioxidant Responses in Rice Seedlings
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Researchers exposed rice seedlings to polyethylene microplastics and copper both individually and in combination and found that microplastics significantly enhanced copper uptake, increasing accumulation by about 25% compared to copper alone. While microplastics alone had minimal effects on growth, the combined exposure intensified oxidative stress in roots and altered antioxidant defense responses. The study demonstrates that microplastics can increase the bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals in agricultural crop systems.
The co-existence of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems poses emerging threats to crop systems, yet their combined phytotoxic effects remain insufficiently understood. In this study, hydroponic rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings were exposed to PE-MPs (50 mg/L) and copper (Cu, 20 mg/L) individually and in combination. The results showed that PE-MPs alone had no significant impact on shoot or root elongation, while Cu exposure slightly reduced root length (from 6.2 cm in the control to 5.8 cm) without affecting shoot growth (~37 cm). Combined PE+Cu treatment resulted in intermediate biomass values, suggesting that microplastics partially mitigated but did not eliminate Cu toxicity. Antioxidant responses displayed organ specificity: shoot peroxidase (POD) activity dropped sharply from >10,000 U/g in the control to ~1200 U/g under Cu exposure, while root POD activity decreased from >11,000 U/g in the control to ~1500 U/g under combined exposure. Cu accumulation was markedly elevated under co-exposure, reaching ~450 mg/kg, about 25% higher than Cu alone and more than 12 times greater than control. These findings demonstrate that PE-MPs can enhance Cu bioavailability and uptake, thereby intensifying oxidative stress in roots while altering shoot defense responses. The study highlights the ecological risks of microplastic–metal co-contamination in agricultural systems and underscores the need for further investigation into long-term impacts on crop productivity and food safety.
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The Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics and Copper Ion Co-Contamination on the Growth of Rice Seedlings
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Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics and copper ions interact when both are present in the water supply of rice seedlings. They found that microplastics actually reduced copper toxicity by absorbing the metal ions, but both pollutants weakened the plant's antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that microplastics and heavy metals interact in complex ways in agricultural systems, with implications for crop health and food safety.
Effects of Polypropylene Microplastics and Copper Contamination on Rice Seedling Growth
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Researchers studied how polypropylene microplastics and copper contamination individually and jointly affect rice seedling growth in hydroponic conditions. The study found that microplastics alone slightly promoted growth, while copper inhibited it, and the combination reduced copper accumulation in seedlings compared to copper alone, suggesting complex interactions between these pollutants in agricultural settings.
Understanding the Role of Low-Dose Polystyrene Microplastic in Copper Toxicity to Rice Seed (Oryza sativa L.)
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This study explored how polystyrene microplastics interact with copper toxicity in rice seeds. Researchers found that microplastics actually reduced copper's harmful effects by physically accumulating on seed coats and blocking copper absorption, lowering the amount of copper taken up by seedlings by about 34%. The findings highlight how microplastics can alter the way other environmental contaminants affect plants.
Oxidative Damage in Roots of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Seedlings Exposed to Microplastics or Combined with Cadmium
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Rice seedlings exposed to polystyrene microplastics and cadmium showed combined toxic effects on root growth, fresh and dry weight, and antioxidant enzyme activities, with combined exposure producing greater oxidative damage than either pollutant alone. The study highlights synergistic phytotoxicity in a staple crop relevant to food security in microplastic-contaminated paddy soils.
Exploration of Single and Co-Toxic Effects of Polypropylene Micro-Plastics and Cadmium on Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
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Researchers investigated the single and combined toxic effects of polypropylene microplastics and cadmium on rice plants, finding that co-exposure altered cadmium bioavailability and produced compounded negative effects on plant growth and development.
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