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Papers
66 resultsShowing papers from North West Agriculture and Forestry University
ClearMeta-analysis of impacts of microplastics on plant heavy metal(loid) accumulation
A meta-analysis of 3,226 observations found that microplastics promoted plant uptake of cadmium (11%), lead (30%), and copper (47.1%) in shoots, but decreased arsenic accumulation by 22.6%. Microplastics increased available soil concentrations of these metal cations while lowering soil pH, with machine learning revealing that soil pH and total heavy metal concentration are the primary drivers of plant metal accumulation.
Polydopamine-modified sodium alginate hydrogel for microplastics removal: Adsorption performance, characteristics, and kinetics
Scientists created a hydrogel made from seaweed-based sodium alginate coated with polydopamine that can remove up to 99.6% of microplastics from drinking water. The hydrogel works regardless of the microplastics' size or surface charge, and it can be reused multiple times, making it a promising low-cost tool for reducing microplastic exposure through tap water.
Advanced understanding of the natural forces accelerating aging and release of black microplastics (tire wear particles) based on mechanism and toxicity analysis
Tire wear particles, a major but often overlooked source of microplastics in water, release heavy metals (especially zinc) and toxic organic chemicals as they age under sunlight and heat. The aging process increases the toxicity of these released substances to cells, raising concerns about long-term health effects from this widespread form of microplastic pollution.
Transfer toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in vivo: Multi-organ crosstalk
In a mouse study, polystyrene microplastics fed to nursing mothers spread to their gut, liver, and mammary glands, and were passed to offspring through breast milk by breaking down gut and blood-milk barriers. The microplastics disrupted the gut microbiome and liver bile acid metabolism, causing inflammation across multiple organs and demonstrating how microplastic toxicity can transfer between a mother and her young.
Bioplastics and biodegradable plastics: A review of recent advances, feasibility and cleaner production
Researchers systematically reviewed over 280 articles on bioplastics and biodegradable plastics, finding that while polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates reduce fossil fuel dependence, their higher production costs, lower durability, and tendency to form microplastics when improperly composted remain significant barriers to replacing conventional plastics.
Synergistic effect and mechanism analysis of biochar regulator on heavy metal passivation and microplastic degradation in sewage sludge compost
This study found that adding cotton stalk biochar to sewage sludge during composting simultaneously reduced heavy metal availability by up to 81% and increased microplastic degradation by up to 58%. The biochar worked by promoting beneficial microorganisms and creating conditions that break down plastic particles, offering a practical strategy for treating two common pollutants in sewage that can otherwise end up in agricultural soil and the food chain.
Oxidative stress and gene expression induced by biodegradable microplastics and imidacloprid in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) at environmentally relevant concentrations
Researchers exposed earthworms to biodegradable microplastics made from polylactic acid (PLA), both alone and combined with a common pesticide. Both treatments caused oxidative stress and DNA damage, and the combined exposure was often more harmful than either pollutant alone. This study is important because it shows that even so-called biodegradable plastics can harm soil organisms and may interact with other agricultural chemicals to create greater environmental damage.
New Insights into the Long-Term Leaching Process of Dissolved Organic Matter from Microplastics: Dynamic Formation and Transformation Mechanism
This study tracked how polystyrene and a biodegradable plastic (PBAT) release dissolved organic compounds as they age under ultraviolet light over 94 days. Polystyrene released chemicals much more slowly but with steadily increasing toxicity over time, while the biodegradable plastic released compounds faster but with less overall toxic buildup. These findings are important because they show that microplastics in the environment continuously leach potentially harmful chemicals, and so-called biodegradable plastics may not be as safe an alternative as assumed.
Co-exposure of nanoplastics and arsenic causes neurotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) through disrupting homeostasis of microbiota–intestine–brain axis
Researchers found that combining nanoplastics with arsenic, two pollutants commonly found together in the environment, caused more severe brain damage in zebrafish than either pollutant alone. The co-exposure reduced serotonin production in the gut, which then lowered serotonin levels in the brain, leading to anxiety and impaired learning. This study reveals a gut-brain pathway through which nanoplastics and co-occurring pollutants could affect mental health and cognition.
Microplastics affect C, N, and P cycling in natural environments: Highlighting the driver of soil hydraulic properties
This study found that common microplastics like polyethylene and polypropylene significantly change how soil handles water and nutrients by increasing water content, reducing soil density, and altering bacterial communities involved in nitrogen and carbon cycling. These changes affected how nutrients are stored in soil, with increases of 12 to 93 percent in nitrogen and carbon storage depending on the plastic type and amount. The findings suggest microplastic pollution could disrupt the fundamental soil processes that support food production.
Insights into growth-affecting effect of nanomaterials: Using metabolomics and transcriptomics to reveal the molecular mechanisms of cucumber leaves upon exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs)
Researchers used advanced metabolomics and gene expression analysis to understand how polystyrene nanoplastics affect cucumber plant leaves. The study found that nanoplastic exposure altered key metabolic pathways and gene expression patterns, interfering with normal plant growth and physiology. The findings provide molecular-level evidence that airborne nanoplastics settling on crops could affect plant health and potentially food production.
Degradation mechanism of microplastics and potential risks during sewage sludge co-composting: A comprehensive review
This review examines how aerobic composting of sewage sludge can break down microplastics, but also identifies risks in the process. While composting shows promise as a green method for degrading microplastics, it can also release plastic additives and change the types of microplastics present. The study highlights that compost made from sewage sludge may inadvertently spread microplastics and their associated chemicals into agricultural soil.
Root Meristem Maintenance Mechanisms are Key to Plant Defense Against Nanoplastics
Researchers discovered that the smallest nanoplastics (20 nanometers) dramatically inhibit root growth in plants, while larger particles have minimal effects. The tiny plastics damage root meristem cells and block cell division, prompting plants to activate defense mechanisms that redirect the growth hormone auxin to protect their roots. However, this defensive response comes at a cost, impairing the plant's ability to sense gravity, which is essential for adapting to its environment.
Microplastics from conventional and biodegradable mulch films alter microbial necromass accumulation and organic carbon sequestration in farmland soils
Researchers compared how microplastics from conventional polyethylene and biodegradable mulch films affect soil organic carbon storage over 120 days. They found that both types of microplastics altered microbial activity and reduced the accumulation of microbial-derived carbon in soil. The study suggests that even biodegradable plastics, once broken into microplastics, may interfere with soil carbon sequestration in farmland.
Size-specific effects of polyethylene microplastics (100–10,000 nm) on the soil resistome and pathogens revealed via metagenomics and machine learning
Researchers incubated polyethylene microplastics of three different sizes in antibiotic-resistant soils and found that smaller particles had the strongest effect on spreading antibiotic resistance genes and increasing pathogen abundance. The microplastics altered soil chemistry, reduced beneficial enzyme activity, and promoted the growth of potentially harmful bacteria while decreasing beneficial species. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in soils may worsen the spread of antibiotic resistance, with particle size playing a key role.
The transport of polystyrene microplastics in saturated porous media: Impacts of functional groups and solution chemistry
Researchers studied how surface chemistry and water conditions affect the movement of polystyrene microplastics through sand, comparing unmodified particles with those carrying carboxyl or amino groups that mimic natural aging. They found that factors like water acidity, salt concentration, and the type of chemical groups on the plastic surface all significantly influenced how far the particles traveled. The study provides important insights into how weathered microplastics may spread through soil and groundwater differently than fresh particles.
Adsorption of neonicotinoid insecticides by mulch film-derived microplastics and their combined toxicity
Researchers studied how microplastics from agricultural mulch films interact with common insecticides used on crops. They found that biodegradable plastic (PBAT) microplastics adsorbed more pesticide than conventional polyethylene microplastics, and that aging increased this adsorption capacity. When combined, the microplastics and insecticides were more toxic to soil organisms than either pollutant alone, suggesting an underappreciated risk in agricultural soils.
Soil microorganisms play an important role in the detrimental impact of biodegradable microplastics on plants
Researchers found that biodegradable microplastics harmed vegetable crop growth by disrupting the soil microbial community rather than through direct contact with the plants. When soil microorganisms were suppressed, the negative effects of the biodegradable microplastics on plant growth were also reduced. The study suggests that soil bacteria and fungi play a key role in mediating the harmful impacts of biodegradable plastics on agricultural crops.
Nanoplastics induced health risk: Insights into intestinal barrier homeostasis and potential remediation strategy by dietary intervention
Researchers showed that environmentally aged nanoplastics disrupt intestinal barrier integrity by increasing permeability, triggering inflammation via AP-1 signaling, and inducing mitochondrial apoptosis, and that dietary quercetin counteracts these effects by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and suppressing p38/JNK phosphorylation.
Earthworm activity effectively mitigated the negative impact of microplastics on maize growth
Researchers investigated whether earthworms could help reduce the harmful effects of microplastic contamination on soil and crop growth. They found that earthworm activity increased soil nutrient content, boosted microbial diversity, and promoted maize growth even in microplastic-polluted soil. The study suggests that earthworms may serve as a natural tool for managing agricultural soils contaminated with plastic particles.
P, N, and C-related functional genes in SBR system promoted antibiotics resistance gene transmission under polystyrene microplastics stress
Researchers evaluated how polystyrene microplastic stress in a sequencing batch reactor system affects the relationship between phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon-related functional genes and antibiotic resistance gene transmission. The study found that microplastic stress promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment, with functional genes involved in nutrient removal playing a role in facilitating this transmission.
Molecular-level insights of microplastic-derived soluble organic matter and heavy metal interactions in different environmental occurrences through EEM-PARAFAC and FT-ICR MS
Researchers used advanced spectroscopic techniques to show that dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics forms stable complexes with copper, lead, and cadmium, and found that free-floating microplastic-derived organic matter enhances heavy metal mobility through porous soils, while settled microplastic organic matter retains metals — altering contaminant transport depending on environmental state.
Effects of irrigation on the fate of microplastics in typical agricultural soil and freshwater environments in the upper irrigation area of the Yellow River
Researchers investigated how irrigation affects microplastic distribution in agricultural soil and nearby waterways along the Yellow River. They found that irrigation increased microplastic concentrations in surface water and sediment while pushing smaller particles deeper into soil, suggesting that river water irrigation causes secondary microplastic pollution in agricultural environments.
Transport of reduced PBAT microplastics in saturated porous media: Synergistic effects of enhanced surface energy and roughness
This study examined how biodegradable PBAT microplastics move through soil after undergoing chemical aging in oxygen-depleted environments. Researchers found that the aging process changed the surface properties of the plastics, making them more mobile in some conditions, which has important implications for understanding how degraded microplastics spread through groundwater systems.