Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) growth to soil contaminated with microplastics

A pot experiment adding LDPE and biodegradable (PLA/PBAT) microplastics to soil at 0.5–2.5% by weight found no significant effects on common bean shoot or root biomass, though higher LDPE concentrations increased specific root nodules, suggesting subtle effects on nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 341 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of diverse microplastics on adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) growth and physiologic properties

Researchers tested the effects of three types of microplastics at different concentrations on adzuki bean growth and found that all types caused some damage, with biodegradable polylactic acid having the strongest negative impact on plant biomass. Higher microplastic concentrations significantly reduced chlorophyll content and triggered antioxidant stress responses. The study suggests that even supposedly eco-friendly biodegradable plastics can harm crop plants when they accumulate in soil.

2024 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on higher plant Vicia faba

Researchers exposed fava bean root tips to polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics and found reduced biomass, increased oxidative stress, and genetic damage in the plant cells. The smaller nanoplastic particles caused more severe effects than the larger microplastics. The study suggests that plastic particle contamination in soil may threaten plant health at the cellular and genetic level.

2019 Environmental Pollution 927 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on common bean rhizosphere bacterial communities

Researchers studied how polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics affect bacterial communities in the root zone of common beans. Both types of microplastics significantly altered the diversity and composition of rhizosphere bacteria, with biodegradable microplastics inducing more distinctive changes than conventional polyethylene at higher concentrations.

2022 Applied Soil Ecology 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics on plant growth and bacterial community in the soil

Researchers compared the effects of regular polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics on soybean growth and soil bacteria. Surprisingly, the biodegradable microplastics caused more harm than conventional ones, significantly reducing root growth and altering soil bacterial communities important for nitrogen fixation. This finding challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for the environment and raises questions about their impact on food crops.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 257 citations
Article Tier 2

Response of soybean and maize roots and soil enzyme activities to biodegradable microplastics contaminated soil

Researchers tested how biodegradable microplastics from PBAT plastic film affect soybean and maize root growth and soil health. They found that higher concentrations of these microplastics in soil reduced root length, surface area, and biomass in soybean by up to 34%, while also altering key soil enzyme activities. The study suggests that even biodegradable plastic residues in agricultural soil may disrupt plant growth and nutrient cycling.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the soil-soybean system: A perspective on rhizosphere microbial community and soil element cycling

This study compared how conventional polyethylene microplastics and biodegradable alternatives (PBAT and PLA) affect soil bacteria and nutrient cycling in soybean fields. The biodegradable microplastics actually caused more harm to soybean growth than conventional ones, reducing shoot biomass by up to 34% and disrupting nitrogen availability in soil. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always better for the environment and raises questions about their impact on agricultural productivity and food security.

2024 Environment International 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Response of peanut plant and soil N-fixing bacterial communities to conventional and biodegradable microplastics

Researchers tested how conventional plastics (polyethylene and polystyrene) and a biodegradable plastic (polylactic acid) affect peanut plant growth and nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria. They found that while none of the plastics reduced plant biomass, the biodegradable PLA at high doses dramatically altered soil nitrogen levels and bacterial community composition. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be as harmless to agricultural soil ecosystems as commonly assumed.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Phytotoxic Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics on the Growth of Food Crops Soybean (Glycine max) and Mung Bean (Vigna radiata)

Researchers tested the effects of polyethylene microplastics on the germination and early growth of soybean and mung bean crops at various concentrations and particle sizes. They found that soybeans were more sensitive to microplastic exposure than mung beans, with significant inhibition of dry weight and root length at higher concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils could negatively affect food crop development, with impacts varying by plant species and particle characteristics.

2021 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Phytotoxicity of polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics on tomato plant growth using hydroponic experiments at various concentrations. The study found that all three types of microplastics negatively affected seed germination, root growth, and plant development, with effects varying by plastic type and concentration. These findings suggest that microplastic contamination in agricultural settings could interfere with crop growth and food production.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 195 citations
Article Tier 2

Dose-dependent toxicity of polyethylene microplastics (PE–MPs) on physiological and biochemical response of blackgram and its associated rhizospheric soil properties

Researchers tested different concentrations of polyethylene microplastics on blackgram plants and their surrounding soil. They found that higher microplastic levels significantly reduced plant growth, photosynthesis, and yield while also altering soil properties and microbial activity. The study demonstrates a dose-dependent relationship, with the most severe impacts occurring at the highest microplastic concentrations.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Environmental and Experimental Botany 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological and biochemical effects of polystyrene micro/nano plastics on Arabidopsis thaliana

Experiments on the model plant Arabidopsis showed that polystyrene nano- and microplastics reduced seed germination, stunted growth, lowered chlorophyll levels, and triggered oxidative stress in roots, with smaller particles and higher concentrations causing the most damage. These findings raise concerns about how microplastic contamination in agricultural soil could affect crop health and ultimately food production.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Can Alter Plant Parameters Without Affecting the Soil Enzymatic Activity in White Lupine

Low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyamide microplastics exposed to white lupine (Lupinus albus) over 110 days altered plant growth parameters—including root morphology and chlorophyll content—without significantly affecting soil enzymatic activity. The findings suggested MPs can impair legume health through mechanisms not captured by soil enzyme assays alone.

2024 Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Cyto-Genotoxic Effect Causing Potential of Polystyrene Micro-Plastics in Terrestrial Plants.

Exposure of plant root cells to polystyrene microplastics at multiple size ranges caused chromosome aberrations, reduced root length, and other cytological damage at higher concentrations. The findings indicate that microplastic particles can cause genotoxic effects in terrestrial plants, with implications for the health of food crops grown in plastic-contaminated soils.

2022 Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
Article Tier 2

Toxic Impact of Soil Microplastics (PVC) on Two Weeds: Changes in Growth, Phenology and Photosynthesis Efficiency

Researchers found that PVC microplastics in soil negatively affected growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and phenological timing in two weed species, with effects varying by concentration and plant species, suggesting that soil microplastic contamination can alter plant community dynamics in agricultural and natural ecosystems.

2022 Agronomy 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Phytotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Growth Morphology, Photosynthesis, Gaseous Exchange and Oxidative Stress of Wheat Vary with Concentration and Shape

Researchers conducted pot experiments to assess how polystyrene microplastics in different shapes and concentrations affect wheat growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress. They found that powder-shaped microplastics caused the most severe reductions in plant height, biomass, and chlorophyll content, especially at higher concentrations. The study suggests that both the shape and concentration of microplastics in soil play important roles in determining their phytotoxic effects on crop plants.

2025 Toxics 7 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

Biodegradable PBAT microplastics adversely affect pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) growth and the rhizosphere ecology: Focusing on rhizosphere microbial community composition, element metabolic potential, and root exudates

Researchers compared biodegradable PBAT plastic microplastics with conventional polyethylene microplastics in soil and found that the biodegradable version actually caused more harm to plant growth and soil health. PBAT microplastics reduced nutrient availability, disrupted the soil microbial community, and altered root chemistry more than conventional plastic. This finding challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for the environment.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 66 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

Discrepancy of Growth Toxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Soybean (Glycine max) and Mung Bean (Vigna radiata)

Researchers compared how polystyrene nanoplastics affect soybean and mung bean plants grown in water and found that both crops suffered root growth suppression, but through different biological pathways. Soybeans showed more oxidative stress at lower doses, while mung beans were more resilient and only showed significant damage at higher concentrations. The study reveals that different crop species can vary widely in their vulnerability to nanoplastic contamination.

2024 Toxics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different types of microplastics in soil on nitrogen absorption and metabolism of quinoa

Researchers grew quinoa in soils spiked with biodegradable (PLA, PBAT) and conventional (PE) microplastics at three concentrations, finding that all types reduced nitrogen-metabolizing enzyme activity and soil organic carbon decomposition, with biodegradable PBAT causing the greatest suppression of nitrogen absorption and moderate concentrations inducing the most severe oxidative stress.

2026 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

LDPE and biodegradable PLA-PBAT plastics differentially affect plant-soil nitrogen partitioning and dynamics in a Hordeum vulgare mesocosm

Researchers compared how conventional LDPE plastic and biodegradable PLA-PBAT plastic affect nitrogen cycling in soil where barley was growing. LDPE microplastics reduced the amount of fertilizer nitrogen taken up by plants and increased nitrogen lost through leaching, while biodegradable plastics boosted microbial activity in the soil. The study shows that different types of plastic pollution affect soil nutrient cycles in different ways, which could influence both crop nutrition and groundwater contamination.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic type on growth and physiology of soil crops: Implications for farmland yield and food quality

Researchers tested how two common types of microplastics (polypropylene and polyester) affect corn, soybean, and peanut crops grown in real farm conditions. The effects varied by crop and plastic type, with polypropylene generally reducing peanut growth while polyester had milder impacts. These findings suggest that microplastic contamination in agricultural soil could affect crop yields and food quality in ways that depend on which plastics are present.

2023 Environmental Pollution 94 citations