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Papers
159 resultsShowing papers from Nanjing Agricultural University
ClearPolystyrene nanoplastics amplify the toxic effects of PFOA on the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)
Nanoplastics amplified the toxic effects of PFOA (a "forever chemical") in Chinese mitten crabs, worsening oxidative stress, immune disruption, and intestinal inflammation beyond what either pollutant caused alone. The combination disrupted fat metabolism and triggered cell death pathways, demonstrating how two common environmental contaminants can interact to create greater health risks in organisms that humans consume as food.
Tyre Wear Particles in the Environment: Sources, Toxicity, and Remediation Approaches
This review examines tire wear particles, which account for a major share of global microplastic pollution with 1.3 million metric tons released annually in Europe alone. These rubber-based particles contain heavy metals and toxic organic chemicals that contaminate air, water, and soil, and human exposure occurs through inhaling dust, eating contaminated food, and drinking water, raising concerns about respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer risks.
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.
A comprehensive review of microplastic aging: Laboratory simulations, physicochemical properties, adsorption mechanisms, and environmental impacts
This review examines how microplastics change as they age in the environment through exposure to sunlight, water, and chemicals, becoming rougher and more chemically reactive over time. Aged microplastics absorb more pollutants than fresh ones and release harmful additives and free radicals, meaning the microplastics people encounter in the real world may be more dangerous than the pristine particles typically used in lab studies.
How biochar works, and when it doesn't: A review of mechanisms controlling soil and plant responses to biochar
This comprehensive review synthesizes 20 years of research on biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste that can improve soil health and reduce pollution. Biochar can reduce plant uptake of heavy metals by 17-39% and increase nutrient availability, making it potentially useful for cleaning up microplastic-contaminated soils. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant because biochar could help mitigate the effects of soil pollutants that microplastics carry and concentrate.
Plastic Pollution in Agriculture as a Threat to Food Security, the Ecosystem, and the Environment: An Overview
This review examines how plastic products used in agriculture -- from mulch films to greenhouse covers -- contribute to microplastic pollution in soil, water, and crops. While plastics help boost crop production and food quality, their breakdown releases microplastics that can be taken up by plants and enter the food chain. The paper discusses strategies to reduce plastic pollution in farming, which is important because agricultural microplastics represent a direct pathway to human dietary exposure.
Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesis
This study exposed tobacco plants to polypropylene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations in soil and found that the particles disrupted multiple metabolic pathways, particularly lignin production which is important for plant structural strength. Nanoscale particles caused more severe effects than larger microplastics, altering gene expression and metabolite profiles. The findings show that microplastic contamination in soil can fundamentally change how plants grow and develop, with potential implications for crop quality.
Weizmannia coagulans BC99 Attenuates Oxidative Stress Induced by Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury via Nrf2/SKN-1 Pathway and Liver Metabolism Regulation
This study found that the probiotic Weizmannia coagulans BC99 protected against alcohol-induced liver damage by activating antioxidant pathways and reducing harmful reactive oxygen species. While focused on alcohol injury rather than microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastic exposure causes similar oxidative stress in the liver. Probiotics that strengthen antioxidant defenses could potentially help counteract some of the cellular damage caused by microplastic exposure.
Tris(2,4-di-<i>tert</i>-butylphenyl) Phosphate Is the Key Toxicant in Aged Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics to Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Roots
Scientists identified a specific chemical additive called Irgafos 168-ox as the main toxic substance released from aged PVC microplastics, causing oxidative stress and reduced growth in wheat roots. This additive was more harmful than other PVC-derived chemicals, and combining multiple additives made the damage worse. The research shows that the chemical additives leaching from microplastics in soil may be more dangerous to food crops than the plastic particles themselves.
Unraveling the impact of nano-microscale polyethylene and polypropylene plastics on Nicotiana tabacum: Physiological responses and molecular mechanisms
Researchers exposed tobacco plants to polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics of different sizes and found that both types suppressed plant growth in a dose-dependent manner, with polypropylene being more toxic. The microplastics disrupted photosynthesis, triggered oxidative stress, and altered hormone signaling and defense pathways in the plants. These findings demonstrate that microplastic contamination in soil can impair crop growth at the molecular level, potentially affecting agricultural productivity.
Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations
Researchers exposed pig egg cells (oocytes) to microplastics and found significant damage to their quality, including problems with cell division and chromosome structure. The microplastics disrupted important metabolic processes, leading to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cell death. Since pig reproductive biology is similar to humans, these findings raise concerns that microplastic exposure could harm female fertility.
Integrated physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic responses of maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) to nanoplastic-induced stress
Researchers exposed maize and soybean crops to polyethylene and polypropylene nanoplastics in soil and found that high concentrations suppressed plant growth and caused oxidative stress in both species. The nanoplastics accumulated in plant roots and disrupted normal gene activity and metabolism, with soybeans being more sensitive than maize. These findings raise concerns about food crop quality and safety as nanoplastic contamination of agricultural soil increases.
Biodegradable microplastics pose greater risks than conventional microplastics to soil properties, microbial community and plant growth, especially under flooded conditions
Researchers compared the effects of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on soil and found that biodegradable plastics (PLA) actually caused more harm to soil chemistry, microbial communities, and plant growth than traditional polyethylene plastics. The damage was especially severe under flooded conditions, which accelerated the breakdown of biodegradable plastics and released more harmful byproducts. This challenges the assumption that switching to biodegradable plastics is always better for the environment.
Enhancing aggregation of microalgae on polystyrene microplastics by high light: Processes, drivers, and environmental risk assessment
Researchers found that bright light conditions caused algae to clump together with polystyrene microplastics much more readily than dim light, by secreting sticky protein-rich substances. This aggregation process changes how microplastics behave in water, potentially causing them to sink and concentrate in certain zones. Since algae are at the base of aquatic food chains, these interactions could affect how microplastics move through ecosystems and eventually reach organisms consumed by humans.
The joint toxicity of polyethylene microplastic and phenanthrene to wheat seedlings
Researchers studied the individual and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and the pollutant phenanthrene on wheat seedlings grown in soil. They found that microplastics alone caused dose-dependent reductions in plant growth and damaged the photosynthetic system, while the combination with phenanthrene worsened the damage. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of microplastics and organic pollutants in agricultural soils may create compounding negative effects on crop growth.
Can agriculture technology improve food security in low- and middle-income nations? a systematic review
This systematic review found that agriculture technologies including precision farming, biotechnology, and digital tools have measurably improved food production and accessibility in low- and middle-income countries. However, adoption barriers including cost, infrastructure gaps, and digital literacy remain significant challenges.
Distinct influence of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on microbe-driving nitrogen cycling processes in soils and plastispheres as evaluated by metagenomic analysis
Researchers compared how conventional polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics affect nitrogen cycling by soil microbes. They found that biodegradable microplastics caused stronger changes to microbial communities and nitrogen processing pathways than conventional plastics, particularly by enriching certain bacteria on their surfaces. The study suggests that even biodegradable plastic mulch alternatives may significantly alter soil nutrient cycling in agricultural settings.
Toxicity of photoaged polyvinyl chloride microplastics to wheat seedling roots
Sunlight-aged PVC microplastics were found to be more toxic to wheat seedling roots than fresh PVC particles, with the aged particles stunting root growth by up to 7.5%. The toxicity came from both physical damage caused by smaller broken-down particles and chemical harm from additives that leached out of the aging plastic. This research matters because PVC is one of the most common microplastics in farm soil, and its increasing toxicity with age could affect crop health and food production.
Artificial photosynthesis bringing new vigor into plastic wastes
This review explores how artificial photosynthesis, which uses sunlight to drive chemical reactions, can convert plastic waste into valuable chemicals and fuels. The approach works under mild conditions and offers an energy-saving alternative to traditional plastic disposal methods like landfilling or incineration. While still in early stages, this technology could help address both plastic pollution and the need for sustainable carbon resources.
Silver nanostars arrayed on GO/MWCNT composite membranes for enrichment and SERS detection of polystyrene nanoplastics in water
Scientists developed a specialized filter membrane using silver nanostars on a graphene composite that can capture and detect polystyrene nanoplastics in water down to extremely low concentrations. The membrane caught 97% of 50-nanometer plastic particles and enabled detection using Raman spectroscopy, a technique that identifies materials by their molecular fingerprint. This portable detection system could help monitor nanoplastic contamination in drinking water and environmental samples.
Ultrastructural, Antioxidant, and Metabolic Responses of Male Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus) to Acute Hypoxia Stress
This study examined how farmed tilapia respond to low-oxygen stress, finding significant changes in antioxidant defenses, metabolism, and organ damage in the gills and liver. While not about microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastic exposure in fish triggers similar oxidative stress responses. Understanding how fish handle environmental stress helps researchers assess the combined impacts when farmed fish face both low oxygen and microplastic contamination.
Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages reveal extensive degradation of the world's rivers
Researchers assessed the biological health of rivers worldwide using fish and macroinvertebrate data from over 100,000 sites across 45 countries, including the most comprehensive coverage of the Global South to date. They found that roughly one-third of assessed river sites showed signs of significant biological degradation. The study highlights that freshwater biodiversity loss is a global crisis, with pollution and habitat alteration affecting rivers on every inhabited continent.
Soil viral–host interactions regulate microplastic-dependent carbon storage
Researchers discovered that microplastics in soil affect carbon storage by changing how viruses and bacteria interact underground. Non-biodegradable microplastics reduced soil carbon by over 17%, while biodegradable ones slightly increased it, through different effects on microbial communities. This matters for human health because soil carbon cycling influences agricultural productivity and the broader climate system.
Photoaged nanoplastics with multienzyme-like activities significantly shape the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
Researchers found that UV-aged polystyrene nanoplastics develop enzyme-like activity that generates reactive oxygen species, enabling them to suppress horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes at higher concentrations by degrading plasmid DNA and damaging bacterial membranes — a paradoxical finding where pollution aging may inhibit antibiotic resistance spread under some conditions.