Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Combined toxicity influence of polypropylene microplastics and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate on physiological-biochemical characteristics of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Researchers investigated the combined effects of polypropylene microplastics and the plasticizer DEHP on cucumber seedling health. They found that microplastics alone impaired photosynthesis and cell membrane stability, while DEHP individually also caused stress responses, but the mixture of both pollutants together produced more complex effects on the plants' antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that the co-presence of microplastics and plastic additives in agricultural soil may pose compounding risks to crop development.

2023 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves to polystyrene nanoplastics pollution

Researchers exposed cucumber plants to polystyrene nanoplastics of four different sizes and found significant effects on photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, and sugar metabolism in the leaves. Smaller particles tended to reduce chlorophyll and photosynthetic activity, while larger particles triggered stronger oxidative stress responses. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in farmland soils could impair crop growth through multiple biochemical pathways.

2020 Chemosphere 317 citations
Article Tier 2

Combination of transcriptomics, metabolomics and physiological traits reveals the effects of polystyrene microplastics on photosynthesis, carbon and nitrogen metabolism in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Researchers used transcriptomics and metabolomics to investigate how polystyrene microplastics affect photosynthesis and carbon-nitrogen metabolism in cucumber plants. The study found that both 5-micrometer and 0.1-micrometer particles reduced photosynthetic capacity and disrupted metabolic pathways, though they did so through different molecular mechanisms involving distinct gene expression changes.

2023 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 40 citations
Article Tier 2

[Effects of Three Different Types of Microplastics on Cucumber Growth and Nitrogen Utilization].

Researchers conducted a greenhouse pot trial examining the effects of three different microplastic types on cucumber growth and nitrogen utilization, finding that MP presence in soil disrupts normal nitrogen uptake and plant development, with effects varying by polymer type.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene particles combined with di-butyl phthalate cause significant decrease in photosynthesis and red lettuce quality

Researchers grew red lettuce hydroponically with polystyrene microplastics and dibutyl phthalate, finding that microplastics reduced the bioavailability of the plasticizer while simultaneously decreasing photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll content.

2021 Environmental Pollution 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different particle size microplastics and di-n-butyl phthalate on photosynthesis and quality of spinach

Researchers investigated how microplastics of different sizes combined with the plasticizer di-n-butyl phthalate affect spinach growth and photosynthesis in hydroponic experiments. They found that the combined pollution significantly reduced key photosynthetic parameters, with effects varying by microplastic particle size and concentration. The study highlights the potential for microplastic-associated chemical contaminants to impair crop productivity in agricultural settings.

2024 Environmental Technology & Innovation 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polyethylene microplastic on the phytotoxicity of di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort)

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interact with the chemical pollutant di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce and found that microplastics altered the plant's response to the toxin. The combination reduced photosynthesis, lowered chlorophyll content, and disrupted the plant's antioxidant defenses. The study highlights that microplastics in soil can change how plants respond to other contaminants, potentially compounding environmental harm.

2019 Chemosphere 380 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitigating microplastic toxicity: How particle size and degrading bacteria influence Cucumis sativus L. seedlings

Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect cucumber seedlings and whether adding plastic-degrading bacteria could reduce the damage. Surprisingly, large microplastic particles actually increased plant height and leaf area, while adding degrading bacteria further improved plant growth and enhanced beneficial soil microbial communities. The study suggests that biological degradation strategies using specialized bacteria could help mitigate microplastic pollution in agricultural settings.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of larger sized polyethylene microplastics on cucumber root secretion and oxidative stress

Hydroponic experiments showed that 25-micrometer polyethylene microplastics inhibit cucumber root growth, reduce chlorophyll and fruit yield, and alter root secretions that affect soil chemistry, with effects intensifying at higher concentrations. The findings demonstrate that even common, large-size microplastics can impair vegetable crop health, raising concerns about food security in microplastic-contaminated soils.

2026 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Phytotoxic effects of polyethylene microplastics combined with cadmium on the photosynthetic performance of maize (Zea mays L.)

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics combined with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, affect photosynthesis in two varieties of maize. They found that microplastics generally worsened cadmium's negative effects on the plants' ability to capture light energy and convert it to growth, though responses differed between maize varieties. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in agricultural soils could amplify the harm caused by heavy metal contamination to crop productivity.

2023 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Carrier effects of microplastics in a hydroponic system: Amplifying diethyl phthalate toxicity and endophytic dysbiosis in Rye (Secale cereale L.) with implications for aquatic ecosystems

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics and diethyl phthalate (a common plasticizer) interact synergistically to cause severe toxicity in hydroponically grown rye, far exceeding the damage from either pollutant alone. The study revealed a bidirectional mechanism where microplastics adsorb the plasticizer while the plasticizer enhances microplastic uptake by roots, leading to photosynthetic collapse and disrupted endophytic microbial communities.

2026 Aquatic Toxicology
Article Tier 2

The Degradability of Microplastics May Not Necessarily Equate to Environmental Friendliness: A Case Study of Cucumber Seedlings with Disturbed Photosynthesis

This study compared the effects of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics and conventional polystyrene microplastics on cucumber seedlings. Surprisingly, the biodegradable PLA particles caused more harm, significantly reducing plant growth and disrupting the photosynthesis system. The results suggest that switching to biodegradable plastics may not eliminate the microplastic problem, since these particles can still damage crops and potentially affect food production.

2023 Agriculture 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of polyethylene, polyamide, and polylactic acid microplastics on Cr accumulation and toxicity to cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in hydroponics

Researchers tested how three types of microplastics affect chromium (a toxic heavy metal) uptake in cucumber plants grown in water. Polyethylene microplastics increased chromium absorption in roots by up to 40%, while polyamide microplastics actually reduced chromium uptake and helped the plants grow better. This matters because microplastics in farm soil could change how much toxic metals end up in the food we eat, depending on the type of plastic involved.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Multiomics reveals the impact of microplastics and di-n-octyl phthalate on hormone biosynthesis in cucumber

Using multiomics analysis, this study examined how polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride microplastics, and the plasticizer di-n-octyl phthalate disrupt phytohormonal signaling in agricultural plants, revealing that these contaminants interfere with hormone regulation through distinct molecular mechanisms.

2025 Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics on growth, photosynthesis and essential elements in Cucurbita pepo L.

Researchers grew squash plants in soil contaminated with four common types of microplastics and found that all four impaired plant growth, especially in the shoots and leaves. PVC was the most toxic, reducing leaf size, photosynthesis, and iron uptake more than the other plastic types. These findings raise concerns that microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil could reduce crop yields and potentially introduce plastics into the food chain.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 361 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and composite damage mechanisms of soil polyethylene/polyvinyl chloride microplastics to the photosynthetic performance of soybean (Glycine max [L.] merr.)

This study found that both polyethylene and PVC microplastic stress caused oxidative damage in soybean plants, impairing the structure and function of photosystem II and ultimately reducing net photosynthesis rates, with implications for crop productivity in microplastic-contaminated agricultural soils.

2023 Frontiers in Plant Science 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Coupled Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics and Cadmium on Soil–Plant Systems: Impact on Soil Properties and Cadmium Uptake in Lettuce

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics interact with cadmium contamination in soil and its effects on lettuce growth. The study found that microplastics combined with cadmium significantly decreased soil quality and that microplastics can alter cadmium uptake in plants, suggesting that co-contamination of agricultural soils with both pollutants may pose compounded risks to food crop safety.

2025 Toxics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of polyethylene particles on dibutyl phthalate toxicity in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

Polyethylene microplastic fragments in soil reduced the uptake of the plasticizer chemical dibutyl phthalate (DBP) into lettuce roots but worsened its inhibitory effects on root growth. The complex interactions between microplastics and co-occurring chemical contaminants like phthalates can alter toxicity in unexpected ways, affecting both plant growth and the safety of food crops.

2021 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

Effects of foliar microplastic exposure on cherry radish: Photosynthesis inhibition mechanisms and multi-omics functional network analysis

Researchers studied how foliar exposure to microplastics affects cherry radish plants and found that polystyrene microplastics reduced the net photosynthetic rate by over 63 percent. The microplastics blocked stomata, reduced mineral uptake needed for chlorophyll production, and caused oxidative stress in leaves and roots. The study reveals that airborne microplastics landing on plant surfaces can significantly impair crop growth through multiple interconnected mechanisms.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of polyethylene microplastics on Brassica rapa: Toxicity mechanism investigation

Researchers exposed the fast-growing plant Brassica rapa (related to turnip and cabbage) to polyethylene microplastics that had been degraded by sunlight, finding that the plastics stunted plant growth by up to 51% and triggered cellular stress responses. Genetic analysis revealed the microplastics disrupted the plant's immune and growth pathways, providing insight into how plastic pollution in agricultural soil could affect food crops.

2024 Emerging contaminants 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics alter soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure without negatively affecting plant growth in an agroecosystem

Researchers tested how three types of microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC) affected plant growth, soil enzymes, and microbial communities in an agricultural setting. The study found that while microplastics suppressed several soil enzyme activities and altered carbon cycling, they did not negatively affect plant growth and in some cases actually enhanced above-ground and below-ground plant productivity.

2023 Chemosphere 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics on the soil-rhizosphere-plant system: Phytotoxicity, enzyme activity, and microbial community

Researchers tested how three common types of microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene) affect lettuce growth and soil health. All three types inhibited plant growth, disrupted antioxidant systems in the leaves, and altered the microbial communities in the soil around roots, with polystyrene and polypropylene causing the most disturbance.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 122 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics facilitate the chemical journey of phthalates through vegetable and aggravate phytotoxicity

This study showed that polystyrene microplastics in soil can absorb and carry phthalates (harmful chemicals used in plastics) into vegetable crops, increasing the amount of these toxic chemicals in the edible parts of the plants. The combination of microplastics and phthalates together was more damaging to plant health than either pollutant alone. This is concerning for human health because it means microplastics could be increasing our exposure to toxic chemicals through the vegetables we eat.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The phytotoxicity of microplastics to the photosynthetic performance and transcriptome profiling of Nicotiana tabacum seedlings

Researchers grew tobacco seedlings in soil contaminated with polyethylene microplastics and found significant damage to their photosynthetic systems, including reduced chlorophyll content and impaired light-use efficiency. Gene analysis revealed that thousands of genes were affected, with 79 key genes related to photosynthesis being suppressed. The study provides new molecular-level evidence that soil microplastic pollution can directly harm how plants convert sunlight into energy.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 95 citations