Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics on dry matter content in Lactuca sativa L.

This study tested the effects of microplastic particles on dry matter content in lettuce plants, finding that microplastic exposure affected plant biomass production. As agricultural soils accumulate microplastics, their effects on crop yield and nutritional quality become important food safety concerns.

2023 International Journal of Science Letters
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability

Researchers grew lettuce in contaminated soil mixed with different types of microplastics, including fibers, glitter, and fragments from bags and bottles. They found that microplastics altered how heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and copper moved through the soil and into the plants, sometimes increasing uptake of toxic metals in roots while decreasing others in leaves. The results raise concerns about food safety in agricultural areas where both microplastic and heavy metal contamination overlap.

2025 Molecules 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro plastic driving changes in the soil microbes and lettuce growth under the influence of heavy metals contaminated soil

Researchers studied how microplastics interact with heavy metals in contaminated soil and their combined effects on lettuce growth and soil bacteria. Different types of microplastics altered soil chemistry and changed which microbes thrived, sometimes making heavy metals more available to plants. The study suggests that microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil could affect both the safety and nutritional quality of leafy vegetables that people eat.

2024 Frontiers in Plant Science 18 citations
Article Tier 2

[Effects of Low-density Polyethylene Microplastics on the Growth and Physiology Characteristics of Ipomoea aquatica Forsk].

Researchers grew water spinach in soil spiked with low-density polyethylene microplastics at varying concentrations and found that even moderate doses reduced germination rates, stunted growth, and disrupted photosynthesis. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soil could threaten food crop yields and quality.

2023 PubMed 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Soil Microplastics on Plant Growth and Soil Health

A greenhouse experiment found that polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics at increasing concentrations reduced lettuce biomass, altered soil microbial activity, and changed soil structure and water retention, with effects more pronounced at higher MP concentrations.

2025 Knowledgeable Research A Multidisciplinary Journal
Article Tier 2

Middle concentration of microplastics decreasing soil moisture-temperature and the germination rate and early height of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. ramosa Hort.) in Mollisols

This experiment added low-density polyethylene microplastics to soil at six different concentrations and measured their effects on the germination and early growth of lettuce. A middle concentration range had the most damaging effect, reducing soil moisture, soil temperature, and seedling height — likely because microplastics altered how water and heat moved through the soil. The results suggest that even moderate levels of microplastic contamination in agricultural soil can impair crop establishment.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 8 citations
Article Tier 2

[Characterization of Microplastic Leachate from Different Polymers and Its Effect on Seed Germination of Lettuce].

Chemicals leached from polyamide and polyethylene microplastic fibers were found to reduce seed germination vigor in lettuce, though they did not affect plant height or root length. Polyamide leachate contained higher levels of dissolved organic matter compared to polyethylene leachate.

2023 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastic Particles and Microplastic Leachate on the Germination and Growth of Lolium multiflorum

Researchers tested whether polypropylene microplastic particles and the chemicals they leach affect Italian ryegrass germination and growth. Both physical microplastic particles and their leachate reduced germination rates and seedling growth, suggesting that both the particles themselves and their chemical additives can harm terrestrial plants.

2020 Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
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

Biochemical Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Seed Enzyme Activation During Early Germination

This study examined how microplastic exposure affects antioxidant enzyme activity in seeds during early germination, finding that microplastics disrupted key biochemical processes required for seed activation. The results suggest soil microplastic contamination could impair crop establishment.

2024 African Journal of Biomedical Research
Article Tier 2

Uptake, Distribution, and Impact of Micro- and Nano-Plastics in Horticultural Systems Using Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a Model Crop

Researchers studied how micro- and nanoplastics are taken up and distributed in lettuce grown in horticultural systems, finding that nanopolystyrene exposures significantly inhibited leaf and root development in a concentration-dependent manner. They optimized extraction methods for quantifying microplastics in soil and developed a synthesis procedure for nanoplastic test particles. The study demonstrates that plastic fragments from horticultural materials can accumulate in soil and affect crop growth, raising concerns about food safety.

2026
Article Tier 2

Potential impact and mechanism of aged polyethylene microplastics on nitrogen assimilation of Lactuca sativa L.

Researchers investigated how aged polyethylene microplastics of different sizes affect nitrogen uptake and metabolism in romaine lettuce. They found that aged microplastics, especially smaller particles, accumulated in the plants and disrupted nitrogen assimilation processes. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may affect crop nutrition and quality by interfering with how plants absorb and process essential nutrients.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of different types and shapes of microplastics on the growth of lettuce

Researchers tested how different types and shapes of microplastics in soil affect lettuce growth in pot experiments. They found that polyvinyl chloride fragments had the most negative impact on lettuce weight and root development, while low-density polyethylene fibers showed less effect. The study indicates that the type and shape of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils matters significantly for crop health outcomes.

2023 Chemosphere 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in agriculture: How exposure pathway (Seed, Leaf, Root) dictates phytotoxicity in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

This study compared the phytotoxicity of polyethylene microplastics applied to lettuce via seed, leaf, and root exposure pathways, finding that root exposure caused the greatest growth inhibition and oxidative stress. The route of MP exposure significantly influenced the type and severity of toxic effects on crops.

2025 Environmental Advances
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on the growth of plants and seed germination in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

This review examined the effects of microplastics on plant growth and seed germination in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, finding that microplastic presence can affect plant development through multiple mechanisms depending on polymer type, concentration, and the composition of the growing medium.

2021 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Species-dependent response of food crops to polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics

Researchers exposed seeds of four common food crops to polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics and found that the effects varied significantly depending on the plant species. Italian lettuce was the most sensitive, with germination rates dropping by up to 36%, while radish and wheat were largely unaffected. The study also found evidence that nanoplastics can be absorbed by plant roots within the first week of growth, raising questions about food safety implications.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 184 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review of microplastics in the soil-plant system: Distribution, uptake, phytotoxicity and prevention

This review brings together data from over 1,000 sampling sites worldwide to map microplastic contamination in soil and its effects on plants. Microplastics can delay seed germination, stunt plant growth, inhibit photosynthesis, and cause genetic damage to crops. The findings raise concerns about food safety because microplastics in agricultural soil could both reduce crop yields and introduce contaminants into the food chain.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 281 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

Sowing in Plastic Contaminated Soils: How (Micro)plastics Impact Seed Germination and Growth of White Mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

Laboratory and pot experiments with white mustard (Sinapis alba) exposed to low-density polyethylene microplastics found dose-dependent inhibition of seed germination, root development, and shoot growth, with higher MP concentrations causing greater plant stress.

2025 Applied Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological analysis and transcriptome profiling reveals the impact of microplastic on melon (Cucumis melo L.) seed germination and seedling growth

Researchers examined how polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect melon seed germination and seedling development. They found that low to medium concentrations of microplastics significantly reduced germination rates and stunted young root growth, while also disrupting gene expression related to plant stress responses. The study provides early evidence that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may impair the growth of economically important crop plants.

2023 Journal of Plant Physiology 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil moisture and texture mediating the micro(nano)plastics absorption and growth of lettuce in natural soil conditions

Experiments growing lettuce in natural agricultural soil showed that microplastics and nanoplastics are taken up and transported through roots, stems, and even leaves, and that higher soil moisture accelerates this uptake and migration. Because the study used realistic soil conditions, it strengthens concerns that food crops may be accumulating plastic particles that consumers then ingest.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to microplastic pollution

PVC microplastics of two different size ranges had contrasting effects on lettuce roots, with smaller particles stimulating root growth and larger particles having no effect, and smaller particles also reduced photosynthetic efficiency at moderate concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic size is a key variable determining whether effects on crops are stimulatory or inhibitory.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 147 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic pollution on soil health and crop responses: Insights from dose-dependent pot experiments

Researchers combined field investigation and pot experiments to assess how microplastic contamination at different doses affects soil health indicators and crop growth performance. Field soils showed measurable microplastic contamination, and pot experiments demonstrated dose-dependent effects on soil enzyme activity, water retention, and plant growth metrics.

2024
Article Tier 2

Effects of Biodegradable Microplastics on Soil and Lettuce Health: Rhizosphere Microbiome and Metabolome Responses

Researchers tested how two common biodegradable microplastics affect lettuce growth and the microbial communities around its roots. At higher concentrations, both types of biodegradable plastics inhibited lettuce growth and significantly disrupted the balance of beneficial soil microbes and plant metabolic processes. The findings suggest that even plastics marketed as biodegradable can negatively impact soil health and crop development when present in sufficient quantities.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 3 citations