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Impact of Nano plastics on the physiological and metabolic integrity of mangrove ecosystems
Summary
This review synthesized evidence that nanoplastics (particles under 1000 nm) disrupt mangrove physiology by inhibiting photosynthesis, promoting oxidative stress, and accumulating in salt glands and aerial root systems, impairing the trees' adaptive responses to salinity. The findings are critically important for microplastic pollution research because mangrove forests serve as major coastal carbon sinks and plastic traps, and nanoplastic-induced physiological damage threatens these ecosystems' capacity to perform those functions.
Mangrove forests represent a critical ecological interface, providing indispensable services such as coastal stabilization, nutrient cycling, and massive carbon sequestration. However, the pervasive influx of plastic debris into these intertidal zones has introduced a significant environmental stressor: Nano plastics. These particles, typically defined as plastic fragments smaller than 1000 nanometers, exhibit unique physicochemical properties that allow them to bypass biological barriers and interact with plant physiology at the cellular and molecular levels. This research examines the effects of Nano plastics on mangrove physiology, examining the mechanisms of uptake, translocation, and subsequent systemic disruption. Evidence suggests that Nano plastics induce a cascade of physiological impairments, including the inhibition of photosynthesis through both light-shielding and genetic downregulation, the promotion of oxidative stress, and the alteration of ionic and hormonal homeostasis. Furthermore, the specialized morphological adaptations of mangroves, such as salt glands and complex aerial root systems, serve as hotspots for Nano plastic accumulation, fundamentally altering the plant’s adaptive responses to salinity and nutrient acquisition. By synthesizing data from multiple species-specific studies, this report elucidates the profound threat Nano plastic pollution poses to the long-term survival and ecological function of mangrove forests.