Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic pollution on agricultural soil and crops based on a global meta‐analysis

This meta-analysis examined data from studies worldwide to assess how microplastic pollution affects agricultural soil and crops. Researchers found that microplastics can alter soil properties including enzyme activity and nutrient availability, with effects varying by plastic type, concentration, and size. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in farmland may affect both soil health and crop growth in ways that depend heavily on local conditions.

2023 Land Degradation and Development 26 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Soil microplastic characteristics and the effects on soil properties and biota: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Meta-analysis of 2,886 experimental groups found that microplastics significantly decreased soil bulk density and aggregate stability, indicating structural damage, while also reducing plant root biomass and soil phosphatase activity. Invertebrates were more sensitive to microplastics than other soil organisms, as particles can pass through nematode gut walls causing oxidative stress and altered gene expression.

2022 Environmental Pollution 228 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Micro- and nano-plastics in hydroponic environment are critical for plants: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to evaluate how microplastics and nanoplastics affect plants grown in water-based growing systems. The findings show that these plastic particles can reduce plant growth and alter root function, suggesting that even hydroponic produce may not be free from microplastic contamination concerns.

2023 Applied Environmental Biotechnology 1 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Microplastics alter the equilibrium of plant-soil-microbial system: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to show that microplastics disrupt the balance between plants, soil, and soil microbes. The effects vary depending on the type, size, and concentration of microplastics, suggesting that these tiny plastic particles can alter how nutrients cycle through the soil and ultimately affect the food we grow.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 23 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Impact of microplastics on plant physiology: A meta-analysis of dose, particle size, and crop type interactions in agricultural ecosystems

This meta-analysis of 37 studies found that microplastics significantly decrease plant biomass by 13% and chlorophyll content by 28%, while increasing oxidative stress by 20%. Higher doses and smaller particle sizes caused more damage, with particle size having a greater impact than concentration — and root activity was particularly sensitive to microplastic exposure.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 34 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Global meta-analysis reveals differential effects of microplastics on soil ecosystem

This meta-analysis pooled data from 114 studies to understand how microplastics affect soil ecosystems at different concentrations. Higher microplastic levels reduced soil organic matter and microbial activity, suggesting that increasing plastic pollution could degrade the soil that supports our food supply.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 87 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Can Change Soil Properties and Affect Plant Performance

Researchers tested six different types of microplastics in soil and found that they altered key soil properties including water-holding capacity, bulk density, and microbial activity. These changes in soil structure had cascading effects on plant growth, with some microplastic types reducing above-ground biomass. The study demonstrates that microplastics can fundamentally change how soil functions, with consequences for plant health and ecosystem stability.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 1910 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Micro and Nanoplastics Interactions with Plant Species: Trends, Meta-Analysis, and Perspectives

This meta-analysis pooled data from multiple studies to examine how micro- and nanoplastics affect plants. It found that nanoplastics (smaller than 100 nm) are generally more harmful to plant growth and development than larger microplastics, though staple crops showed surprisingly little effect. Since plants can absorb these tiny plastic particles, the findings raise questions about whether microplastics in soil could enter the food supply.

2022 3 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Microplastic and Nanoplastic in Crops: Possible Adverse Effects to Crop Production and Contaminant Transfer in the Food Chain

This meta-analysis found that nanoplastics can be taken up by plant roots and transferred to the parts we eat, while also reducing crop yields. This means microplastic pollution in agricultural soil could affect both food safety and food production, creating a dual concern for human health.

2024 Plants 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro (nano) plastic pollution: The ecological influence on soil-plant system and human health.

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics affect soil health, plant growth, and food quality, finding that these particles accumulate in plant root systems and can reduce crop yields and alter nutritional content. Since contaminated soil and water are increasingly delivering microplastics to food crops, these findings are directly relevant to agricultural food safety.

2021 The Science of the total environment
Meta Analysis Tier 1

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.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 110 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic/nanoplastic toxicity in plants: an imminent concern

This review examines the growing body of research on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect terrestrial plants, from root uptake to changes in growth and gene expression. Researchers found that these particles can alter plant physiology and biochemistry at varying degrees depending on particle size and concentration. The study calls for more research on how plastic contamination in soil may ultimately affect food crop quality and human health through the food chain.

2022 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 182 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Ecotoxicological effects of plastics on plants, soil fauna and microorganisms: A meta-analysis

Meta-analysis of 2,936 observations from 140 studies found that plastics caused substantial detrimental effects to plants and soil fauna, but had less impact on microbial diversity. Larger plastics (>1 um) impaired plant growth and germination while nanoplastics primarily increased oxidative stress, and soil fauna reproduction and survival were more adversely affected by smaller particles.

2022 Environmental Pollution 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent advances on microplastics/nanoplastics interaction with plant species: A concise review

This review synthesizes research on how microplastics and nanoplastics interact with plants, finding that plastic particles in soil can interfere with root uptake, germination, and crop yields depending on the type and concentration of plastic present. The findings are particularly relevant to human health because food crops grown in microplastic-contaminated agricultural soils may absorb or accumulate plastic particles, creating a direct dietary exposure route.

2023 Malaysian Journal of Chemical Engineering and Technology
Article Tier 2

Root traits and rhizosphere responses as emerging bioindicators of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils: A review

This review examines how microplastic pollution in agricultural soils disrupts root growth, nutrient uptake, and the beneficial interactions between plant roots and soil microbes. Researchers found that microplastics can alter root exudation patterns, change soil structure, and shift microbial communities around roots in ways that may impair crop productivity. The study proposes that root traits and rhizosphere responses could serve as early warning indicators of microplastic contamination in farmland.

2026 Environmental Research 1 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effects of plastic residues and microplastics on soil ecosystems: A global meta-analysis

Global meta-analysis of 6,223 observations found that plastic residues and microplastics decreased soil water movement by 14%, dissolved organic carbon by 10%, and total nitrogen by 7%, while reducing plant height by 13% and root biomass by 14%. Soil animal body mass and reproduction decreased by 5% and 11% respectively, though soil enzyme activity increased by 7-441%.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 252 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances on Multilevel Effects of Micro(Nano)Plastics and Coexisting Pollutants on Terrestrial Soil-Plants System

This review systematically summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics, alone and combined with co-existing pollutants, affect soil properties and terrestrial plants at multiple biological levels. Researchers found that microplastics can serve as carriers for heavy metals, organic contaminants, and biological pollutants, with their specific impacts depending on polymer type, size, shape, and concentration. Evidence indicates that plants can take up and transport micro- and nanoplastics, leading to effects on growth, metabolism, and even DNA damage.

2023 Sustainability 28 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Microplastics in plant-soil ecosystems: A meta-analysis

This first formal meta-analysis of microplastics in plant-soil systems found that microplastics made soils more porous and water-retentive but decreased aggregate stability and microbial diversity, suggesting plastics occupy physical space without integrating into the soil biophysical matrix. Maize was more sensitive than rice or wheat, and microplastics enhanced soil CO2 flux and evapotranspiration while reducing N2O flux.

2022 Environmental Pollution 127 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Micro/nanoplastics pollution poses a potential threat to soil health

This large meta-analysis of over 5,000 observations found that micro- and nanoplastics in soil harm crop growth, soil organisms, and microbial communities while increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The findings suggest that plastic pollution poses a broad threat to soil health, which could ultimately affect food production and human well-being.

2024 Global Change Biology 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of microplastics on terrestrial plants: A critical review

This review examines how microplastics affect land-based plants, finding that they can alter soil structure, disrupt beneficial soil microbes, and reduce plant growth. Microplastics also carry toxic chemicals like plasticizers and heavy metals that can be taken up by plant roots and enter the food chain. The findings raise concerns about human health since contaminated crops could be a hidden source of microplastic and chemical exposure in our diets.

2024 Land Degradation and Development 23 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effect of Non-biodegradable and Biodegradable Microplastics on Plants from Physiological to individual levels: A Meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pools data from 180 studies to compare how biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics affect plant health. It found that both types can harm plant growth and physiology, which matters because contaminated crops could eventually transfer microplastics into the food supply that humans depend on.

2025
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Global Responses of Soil Carbon Dynamics to Microplastic Exposure: A Data Synthesis of Laboratory Studies

This meta-analysis combined data from 110 studies to understand how microplastics change the way carbon moves through soil. The findings suggest that plastic pollution can disrupt natural soil processes, which may affect soil health and the planet's ability to store carbon.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 91 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Microplastics and Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Critical Reflection on Meta-Analyses

This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to assess whether microplastics in agricultural soil affect greenhouse gas emissions. The findings reveal that the environmental impact of microplastics extends beyond direct toxicity, as they may alter soil microbial activity in ways that contribute to climate change.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Particulate plastics-plant interaction in soil and its implications: A review

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics in soil interact with plants, including uptake through roots, accumulation in plant tissues, and effects on growth, nutrient absorption, and soil microbial communities. The study highlights that these plastic particles can alter soil structure and chemistry in ways that affect crop development, raising concerns about food safety and agricultural productivity.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 93 citations