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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to ZnO-loaded PVC microplastics increases soil Zn bioavailability and phytotoxicity
ClearZinc-containing PVC microplastics reduce soil microbial activity and alter community structure in the plastisphere following UV-induced weathering
Researchers studied how zinc-containing PVC microplastics affect soil health before and after UV weathering and found that UV aging dramatically increased zinc release into soil. The weathered microplastics with high zinc content inhibited soil microbial activity, reduced bacterial diversity, and shifted community structure, highlighting how plastic additives can amplify the environmental impact of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.
Co-exposure of maize to polyethylene microplastics and ZnO nanoparticles: Impact on growth, fate, and interaction
Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles on maize growth in a pot experiment. The study found that co-exposure altered plant growth, the fate of nanoparticles in the soil-plant system, and the interaction between these two common agricultural contaminants, suggesting that microplastics can influence how other pollutants behave in crop production.
Altered interactions and joint toxicity between microplastics and zinc induced by activated sludge composting process
Researchers studied how the composting process ages microplastics made of PET, PP, and PE, and how this aging alters their interactions with the heavy metal zinc. They found that composting increased cracks and oxygen-containing groups on the plastic surfaces, enhancing their capacity to adsorb zinc and increasing the combined toxicity to the model organism C. elegans. The study suggests that aged microplastics in compost may increase heavy metal bioavailability when applied to agricultural soils.
Microplastics in Mediterranean Agricultural Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Metal Accumulation in Plants, and Implications for Sustainable Agroecosystems
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles in soil make it easier for toxic metals like lead and zinc to move into plants we might eat. Even small amounts of microplastics changed how metals behave in the soil, with some types of plastic causing up to 20% more metal absorption in plants. This matters because these contaminated plants could end up in our food supply, potentially increasing our exposure to harmful metals.
Microplastics change soil properties, heavy metal availability and bacterial community in a Pb-Zn-contaminated soil
This study found that adding six different types of microplastics to soil contaminated with lead and zinc changed the soil's chemistry, increased the availability of those toxic metals, and shifted the bacterial communities living in the soil. Higher doses of microplastics caused greater disruption, reducing microbial diversity and altering nutrient cycling. The findings suggest that microplastics in contaminated soil could make heavy metals more likely to enter plants and the food chain.
The effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles co-exposure on nutritional quality of purple waxy maize grains
Researchers investigated the co-exposure effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles on purple waxy maize grain quality. Surprisingly, the combination treatment increased ear weight and improved nutritional quality by promoting protein, starch, and amino acid accumulation, suggesting that zinc oxide nanoparticles may help mitigate some negative effects of microplastic soil contamination on crop nutrition.
Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics from agricultural mulch and cadmium negatively impact earthworms by triggering neurotoxicity and disrupting homeostasis
Researchers exposed earthworms to environmentally realistic levels of microplastics from agricultural mulch film combined with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal. The aged microplastics helped carry more cadmium into the earthworms' bodies, causing nerve damage, gut tissue injury, and disrupted metabolism. This study shows that microplastics in farm soil can make heavy metal contamination worse for soil organisms, with potential knock-on effects for the food chain.
Influence of aged and pristine polyethylene microplastics on bioavailability of three heavy metals in soil: Toxic effects to earthworms (Eisenia fetida)
Researchers studied how aging affects the ability of polyethylene microplastics to influence the bioavailability of zinc, lead, and cadmium in soil, and the resulting toxicity to earthworms. The study found that aged microplastics had different adsorption properties for heavy metals compared to pristine particles, which altered the bioavailability of these metals and affected earthworm health differently depending on microplastic concentration and aging status.
Agricultural films derived microplastics intensify acetochlor toxicity on soil health
Researchers examined whether microplastics from agricultural plastic films worsen the toxic effects of the herbicide acetochlor on soil health. They found that both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable PBAT microplastics combined with the herbicide caused soil acidification, depleted organic carbon, and disrupted microbial communities more severely than either contaminant alone. The study suggests that microplastics from farming materials may amplify the harmful effects of commonly used agricultural chemicals on soil ecosystems.
Long term influences of PVC microplastics on soil chemical and microbiological parameters
Researchers exposed agricultural soil to PVC microplastics over a long-term experiment and measured changes in soil chemistry and microbial communities. PVC addition altered soil pH, carbon and nitrogen cycling, and microbial diversity over time. Long-term PVC contamination in farmland soils can disrupt the biological processes that maintain soil fertility and plant health.
The Effect of Microplastics-Plants on the Bioavailability of Copper and Zinc in the Soil of a Sewage Irrigation Area
Researchers examined how different concentrations of microplastics affect the bioavailability of copper and zinc in sewage-irrigated soils, finding that microplastics can alter heavy metal mobility and plant uptake, with implications for food safety in contaminated agricultural areas.
Plastic Bag Derived-Microplastics as a Vector for Metal Exposure in Terrestrial Invertebrates
Researchers investigated whether microplastics from degraded plastic bags could serve as carriers of zinc contamination to earthworms in soil. Laboratory tests showed that zinc desorbed more readily from microplastics than from soil under conditions mimicking an earthworm's gut, suggesting increased bioavailability. However, in live earthworm experiments, no significant zinc accumulation or harm was observed, indicating that for well-regulated essential metals the actual ecological risk may be limited.
Effects of microplastics and cadmium co-contamination on soil properties, maize (Zea mays L.) growth characteristics, and cadmium accumulation in maize in loessial soil-maize systems
Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and cadmium on soil properties and maize growth through pot experiments. They found that microplastics altered soil nutrient availability and, depending on size and concentration, either increased or decreased cadmium uptake by the plants. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils can change how crops absorb toxic heavy metals, with potential implications for food safety.
The synergy of microplastics with the heavy metal zinc has resulted in reducing the toxic effects of zinc on lentil (Lens culinaris) seed germination and seedling growth
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interact with zinc heavy metal contamination in lentil seed germination experiments. Unexpectedly, they found that the presence of microplastics actually reduced zinc toxicity to the plants, likely because the microplastics bound to zinc ions in solution and limited plant uptake. The study suggests that microplastic-metal interactions in agricultural soils may be more complex than simple additive toxicity.
Evaluating the impacts of microplastics on agricultural soil physical, chemical properties, and toxic metal availability: An emerging concern for sustainable agriculture
This study tested how five common types of microplastics affect soil properties and heavy metal availability in agricultural soil over 90 days. Microplastics changed soil structure, nutrient levels, and water-holding capacity, and actually reduced the availability of toxic heavy metals at higher plastic concentrations -- highlighting the complex ways plastic pollution is altering the farmland that produces our food.
Interactions of microplastics and cadmium on plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in an agricultural soil
Researchers studied how polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics interact with cadmium contamination to affect maize growth and beneficial soil fungi in agricultural soil. While polyethylene showed minimal direct plant toxicity, high doses of polylactic acid significantly reduced maize biomass, and both plastic types altered the communities of root-associated fungi. The study suggests that co-contamination of microplastics and heavy metals in farmland can jointly disrupt plant health and soil ecosystems.
Mitigating the effects of PVC microplastics and mercury stress on rye (Secale cereale L.) plants using zinc oxide−nanoparticles
Researchers applied zinc oxide nanoparticles to rye plants exposed to PVC microplastics and mercury in soil, finding that ZnO-NPs mitigated some of the toxic effects by improving nutrient uptake and reducing oxidative stress. The study suggests nanoparticle-based approaches may help protect crops in microplastic- and heavy metal-contaminated soils.
Impacts of polyethylene microplastics on bioavailability and toxicity of metals in soil
Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics affect the bioavailability and toxicity of copper and nickel in soil using earthworms as test organisms. They found that adding microplastics to contaminated soil increased the bioavailability of the metals and enhanced their toxic effects on the earthworms. The study suggests that microplastics in soil can worsen heavy metal pollution by making metals more accessible and harmful to soil-dwelling organisms.
Leaching of phthalate acid esters from plastic mulch films and their degradation in response to UV irradiation and contrasting soil conditions
Researchers studied how phthalate plasticizers leach from agricultural mulch films and break down under different soil conditions and UV exposure. They found that sunlight accelerates the release of these chemicals from plastic, while soil microbes play a major role in their subsequent degradation. The study highlights how plastic mulch in farming can be a continuous source of potentially harmful chemical additives entering the soil environment.
Responses of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings growth and physiological traits triggered by polyvinyl chloride microplastics is dominated by soil available nitrogen
Researchers found that PVC microplastics in soil reduced maize seedling growth primarily by depleting available nitrogen, a nutrient essential for plant development. The microplastics altered soil bacteria, enzymes, and nutrient levels, with nitrogen availability explaining nearly 88% of the changes in plant growth. This suggests that microplastic pollution in agricultural soil could reduce crop yields by starving plants of essential nutrients.
Influence of soil microplastic contamination on maize (Zea mays) development and microbial dynamics
Researchers grew maize (corn) in soil contaminated with varying amounts of microplastics and found that higher microplastic levels disrupted soil bacteria and fungi, caused leaf damage like yellowing and tissue death, and led to elevated heavy metals in plant tissue above safe limits. The results point to serious risks microplastics pose to crop health, soil ecosystems, and food safety.
Traditional microplastics alter microbial community, metabolites and nutrition in heavy metal-contaminated coastal saline soil
Researchers added three types of microplastics to coastal soil already contaminated with heavy metals (cadmium, copper, and zinc), finding that the plastics altered soil chemistry, shifted microbial communities, disrupted metabolic pathways, and changed how available the toxic metals were to organisms. These findings suggest microplastics can worsen existing heavy metal pollution by changing how metals move through soil ecosystems.
Influence of polyethylene-microplastic on environmental behaviors of metals in soil
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics affect the adsorption, desorption, and bioavailability of heavy metals in soil. They found that adding microplastics altered how metals bind to soil particles and increased the mobility of certain metals like cadmium and lead. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in soils may change the environmental behavior of heavy metals, potentially increasing their availability to plants and soil organisms.
Metal type and aggregate microenvironment govern the response sequence of speciation transformation of different heavy metals to microplastics in soil
A five-month soil incubation experiment showed that polyethylene microplastics shifted heavy metals like zinc and cadmium from bioavailable forms toward organic-bound forms in soil aggregates, reducing their immediate availability to plants and organisms. The effect varied by metal type and aggregate size, suggesting microplastics can alter the environmental behavior of multiple co-contaminants simultaneously.