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From biodegradation to biohazard: Polylactic acid microplastics induced rice growth inhibition in agroecosystems
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Researchers tested the effects of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, a type marketed as biodegradable, on rice growth in soil. They found that PLA microplastics inhibited rice development by reducing nitrogen availability, disrupting root bacteria, and releasing potentially harmful breakdown products. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be as environmentally safe as assumed, particularly in agricultural settings.
The increasing use of biodegradable plastics necessitates critical evaluation of their environmental safety. This study investigated the effects of polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs, 0.1-2.5 % w/w) on rice-soil systems using controlled pot experiments integrated with enzymatic assays, rhizosphere bacterial profiling, and non-target analysis of degradation products. PLA-MPs exposure inhibited rice growth by reducing photosynthetic efficiency and root development, which was associated with decreased nitrogen availability (30-60 % reduction in NH/NO-N), altered phosphorus levels, and reduced microbial α-diversity. Foliar fertilization alleviated phytotoxic effects by improving antioxidant responses and nutrient uptake. Non-target screening identified lactic acid derivatives as dominant degradation products, with limited long-term persistence. The degradation rate of PLA-MPs was estimated at 0.065 mg·d⁻¹ under soil conditions. These results indicate that PLA-MPs, despite their biodegradable nature, can adversely affect soil nutrient cycling and crop performance. These findings emphasize the need to re-evaluate biodegradable plastic use in agriculture and promote integrated mitigation strategies to reduce microplastic-induced stress and support sustainable soil-plant systems.
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Unveiling the detrimental effects of polylactic acid microplastics on rice seedlings and soil health
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Researchers found that even biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics significantly harmed rice plants at high concentrations, reducing root and shoot weight by roughly half and disrupting photosynthesis, while also altering soil enzyme activity and bacterial communities. These findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are harmless to agriculture and raise questions about their impact on food crops that humans depend on.
Characteristics of biofilms on polylactic acid microplastics and their inhibitory effects on the growth of rice seedlings: A comparative study of petroleum-based microplastics
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Researchers compared the effects of bio-based polylactic acid microplastics to conventional petroleum-based microplastics on rice seedling growth. They found that the bio-based particles actually caused more harm, attracting microorganisms that competed with the seedlings for nutrients and disrupting chlorophyll production. The study suggests that switching to bio-based plastics may not eliminate the agricultural risks posed by microplastic pollution.
Effects of different microplastics on the physicochemical properties and microbial diversity of rice rhizosphere soil
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Researchers compared how conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics, both fresh and aged, affect rice paddy soil properties and microbial communities. They found that aged microplastics had stronger effects than fresh ones, altering soil pH, nutrient availability, and the composition of root-associated bacteria. The study warns that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for soil health than conventional plastics, especially as they break down over time.
Effects of different size polylactic acid on arsenic migration and rhizosphere microorganisms in soil-rice system
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Researchers found that polylactic acid (PLA), a common biodegradable microplastic, increased the availability of toxic arsenic in rice paddies by changing soil chemistry and promoting bacteria that convert arsenic into more dangerous forms. Nano-sized PLA particles were particularly harmful, promoting arsenic uptake into rice plants, while larger particles actually blocked it. This study is important for food safety because it shows that even biodegradable plastics in agricultural soil can increase toxic contamination in rice, a staple food for billions of people.
Effect of polylactic acid microplastics on soil properties, soil microbials and plant growth
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Researchers tested whether microplastics from biodegradable polylactic acid plastic, often proposed as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic, affect soil health and plant growth. High concentrations of these biodegradable microplastics reduced soil pH, altered the ratio of carbon to nitrogen, decreased plant growth, and shifted soil microbial communities. The study suggests that even biodegradable plastics can negatively affect agricultural ecosystems when they break down into microplastic-sized particles.
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