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Papers
490 resultsShowing papers from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
ClearMicroplastics predominantly affect gut microbiota by altering community structure rather than richness and diversity: A meta-analysis of aquatic animals
A phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis of 63 studies across 31 aquatic species found that microplastics significantly alter gut microbiota community structure — with between-group distances 87.75% higher than within-group distances — even at environmentally relevant concentrations. However, microplastics did not significantly affect species richness or Shannon diversity, indicating structural reorganization rather than diversity loss.
A Critical Review of an Environmental Risk Substance Induced by Aging Microplastics: Insights into Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals
This review examines how microplastics generate long-lasting free radicals as they age in the environment through exposure to sunlight and chemical reactions. These environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) on aged microplastics can cause oxidative stress and damage to living cells, adding a previously underappreciated layer of toxicity beyond the physical harm caused by the plastic particles themselves.
Microplastics stimulated nitrous oxide emissions primarily through denitrification: A meta-analysis
Meta-analysis of 60 studies found that microplastic exposure increased soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by 140.6%, primarily by stimulating denitrification rates (up 17.8%) and denitrifier gene abundance (up 10.6%), while nitrification remained unaffected. This resulted in a 38.8% increase in soil nitrite and a 22.4% decrease in nitrate.
Current trends, limitations and future research in the fungi?
This broad review of modern mycology (the study of fungi) covers emerging fungal diseases, drug discovery from fungi, genomics advances, and how fungi can be used in construction and circular economies. While not directly about microplastics, some fungi show promise for biodegrading plastic waste, making mycology research relevant to addressing microplastic pollution.
Microplastic and Nanoplastic Interactions with Plant Species: Trends, Meta-Analysis, and Perspectives
This meta-analysis examines how microplastics and nanoplastics interact with plants, finding effects on germination, growth, and nutrient absorption. The findings raise concerns for human health because crops grown in microplastic-contaminated soil may take up these particles, creating another pathway for microplastics to enter our diet.
The ant that may well destroy a whole dam: a systematic review of the health implication of nanoplastics/microplastics through gut microbiota
This systematic review summarizes existing research on how nanoplastics and microplastics disrupt gut bacteria in various organisms. The findings show that plastic particle exposure consistently alters gut microbiome composition, which in turn affects the host's immune function, metabolism, and overall health. These gut bacteria changes may be a key pathway through which microplastics harm human health.
Study on the degradation efficiency and mechanism of polystyrene microplastics by five kinds of edible fungi
Scientists tested five common edible mushroom species and found they can break down polystyrene microplastics, with oyster mushrooms achieving the highest degradation rate of about 16% in 50 days. This is the first study to identify the specific genes and enzymes involved in how these fungi digest plastic, opening the door to potential biological solutions for microplastic cleanup.
The impact of microplastics on antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, and bacterial community in aquaculture environment
Researchers discovered that microplastics in fish farming environments carry significantly higher levels of antibiotic resistance genes and disease-causing bacteria like Brucella and Pseudomonas compared to surrounding water. This means microplastics may act as floating platforms that help spread antibiotic-resistant infections through aquaculture, potentially reaching humans who consume the seafood.
Micro/Nanoplastics in plantation agricultural products: behavior process, phytotoxicity under biotic and abiotic stresses, and controlling strategies
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics from sources like plastic mulch and wastewater contaminate agricultural crops, harming plant growth, photosynthesis, and food quality. The findings matter for human health because these plastic particles can accumulate in the fruits and vegetables we eat, carrying toxic chemicals along with them into our diet.
Discovery and solution for microplastics: New risk carriers in food
This review summarizes the current state of microplastic contamination in food, covering which foods are affected, how to detect microplastics, and how to break them down. Microplastics accumulate through the food chain and have been confirmed in many everyday foods, posing serious health risks. The authors call for standardized detection methods and national policies to monitor and reduce microplastic contamination in the food supply.
Single and Synergistic Effects of Microplastics and Difenoconazole on Oxidative Stress, Transcriptome, and Microbiome Traits in Honey Bees
Researchers exposed honey bees to microplastics and the fungicide difenoconazole, both alone and together, and found that the combination caused worse oxidative stress and gut microbiome disruption than either pollutant alone. This is concerning because bees encounter both pollutants in agricultural environments, and the combined exposure may weaken their health more than expected.
Meta-analysis reveals differential impacts of microplastics on soil biota
Soil microplastic contamination ranged from 0.34 to over 410,000 items/kg across sites, and their presence significantly increased mortality rates and decreased individual numbers, diversity, and reproduction of soil organisms, though biomass was unaffected due to opposing effects on different organism groups.
Polystyrene nanoplastic exposure actives ferroptosis by oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation in porcine oocytes during maturation
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics trigger ferroptosis — a form of iron-dependent cell death driven by fat oxidation — in pig egg cells, disrupting their maturation and reproductive viability. This finding raises concerns about nanoplastic exposure potentially impairing fertility by damaging the eggs needed for reproduction.
H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress Responses in Eriocheir sinensis: Antioxidant Defense and Immune Gene Expression Dynamics
This study examined how Chinese mitten crabs respond to oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide, finding that their antioxidant defenses and immune gene activity initially ramp up but then collapse under prolonged or high-dose exposure. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant because microplastics are known to trigger similar oxidative stress in aquatic organisms, and this research helps map the biological pathways involved.
Characteristics and risks of microplastic contamination in aquaculture ponds near the Yangtze Estuary, China
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in aquaculture ponds near the Yangtze River in China, finding an average of 36 particles per liter in water and 272 particles per kilogram in sediment. Polyethylene was the most common plastic type, and crab and prawn ponds had higher contamination than fish ponds. Since farmed seafood is a major food source, this contamination could be a pathway for microplastics to reach human diets.
Sources and identification of microplastics in soils
This review summarizes where microplastics in soil come from and how scientists detect them. Major sources include agricultural plastic film, sewage sludge spread on fields, fertilizers, and irrigation water. The paper discusses methods for separating and identifying soil microplastics, which is important because understanding soil contamination helps assess how much plastic may be entering our food from the ground up.
Biodegradable Microplastic-Driven Change in Soil pH Affects Soybean Rhizosphere Microbial N Transformation Processes
Researchers found that biodegradable microplastics made from polybutylene succinate (PBS) caused more harm to soil health than conventional polyethylene microplastics in soybean-growing systems. The biodegradable plastic acidified the soil, disrupted microbial communities responsible for nitrogen cycling, and impaired plant nutrient uptake. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for agricultural environments.
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.
Toxic effects of microplastics and nitrite exposure on intestinal histology, digestion, immunity, and microbial community of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei
Shrimp exposed to both microplastics and nitrite (a common water pollutant) suffered more intestinal damage than those exposed to either pollutant alone. The combined exposure disrupted gut bacteria, increased stress and cell death markers, and weakened immune function in the shrimp. While this study focused on aquatic animals, it shows how microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of other environmental pollutants.
Toxicity of Ammonia Stress on the Physiological Homeostasis in the Gills of Litopenaeus vannamei under Seawater and Low-Salinity Conditions
This study examined how ammonia stress damages the gills of Pacific white shrimp raised in both seawater and low-salinity conditions. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant because microplastics in aquaculture water can worsen ammonia toxicity, and the gill damage observed -- including disrupted ion balance and immune function -- highlights how environmental stressors compound threats to seafood safety.
Co-exposure of arsenic and polystyrene-nanoplastics induced kidney injury by disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis and mtROS-mediated ferritinophagy and ferroptosis
Researchers found that arsenic and polystyrene nanoplastics together — but not separately — cause kidney fibrosis in mice by disrupting mitochondrial function and triggering a form of iron-dependent cell death called ferroptosis, with mitochondria-targeted antioxidants significantly reducing the combined damage.
Bibliometric analysis and systematic review of the adherence, uptake, translocation, and reduction of micro/nanoplastics in terrestrial plants
This bibliometric analysis and systematic review synthesized research on how micro- and nanoplastics adhere to, are absorbed by, and translocate through terrestrial plants, with potential accumulation in edible tissues. The study found that particle size, surface charge, and plant species all influence uptake, and that current research lacks standardized methods, making it difficult to fully assess the risk of microplastics entering the human food chain through crops.
Impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics in maize-soil ecosystems: Above and below ground
Researchers compared the effects of conventional plastics (polyethylene and polypropylene) and biodegradable plastics (PBAT and PCL) on corn plants and soil health. One biodegradable plastic, PCL, reduced plant production by about 74% and severely disrupted soil enzyme activity and microbial communities. This study cautions that simply replacing conventional plastics with biodegradable alternatives in farming is not guaranteed to be safer for soil ecosystems.
Toxicity Mechanisms of Nanoplastics on Crop Growth, Interference of Phyllosphere Microbes, and Evidence for Foliar Penetration and Translocation
Researchers exposed tomato plants to nanoplastics with different surface charges and found that positively charged particles caused the most damage, including stunted growth, increased stress responses, and disruption of the leaf microbiome. The nanoplastics penetrated through leaves and traveled to the roots, demonstrating that atmospheric plastic pollution can contaminate crops from above. This is a concern for food safety, as nanoplastics accumulating in edible plants could be a route of human exposure.