Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Enhancing spinach growth and soil microbial health under sulfadiazine and polypropylene exposure through zinc fortification

Researchers found that zinc oxide nanoparticles can effectively reduce the toxic effects of antibiotics and polypropylene microplastics on spinach plants grown in contaminated soil. The zinc treatment lowered oxidative stress markers by 18-28% while boosting the activity of protective enzymes in roots and shoots. The study suggests that zinc supplementation could be a practical strategy for improving crop health in soils polluted with microplastics and pharmaceutical residues.

2025 Environmental Technology & Innovation 3 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Land Degradation and Development 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Zinc oxide nanoparticles and polyethylene microplastics affect the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes, and Zn accumulation of rice seedlings

Researchers found that both zinc oxide nanoparticles and polyethylene microplastics disrupted growth, physiology, and zinc uptake in two rice cultivars, with nanoparticles having a stronger effect than microplastics, and responses varying by cultivar and dose.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Multiomics analysis reveals a substantial decrease in nanoplastics uptake and associated impacts by nano zinc oxide in fragrant rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Researchers found that nano zinc oxide (nZnO) particles form aggregates with polystyrene nanoplastics in the root zone of fragrant rice, physically blocking nanoplastic uptake, while transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that nZnO also restored antioxidant defenses and rescued aroma compound biosynthesis that nanoplastics had disrupted.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 22 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Food Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptomic mechanism for foliar applied nano-ZnO alleviating phytotoxicity of nanoplastics in corn (Zea mays L.) plants

Researchers found that applying zinc oxide nanoparticles to corn leaves helped protect the plants from the harmful effects of nanoplastic pollution. The nano-zinc treatment reduced nanoplastic accumulation in leaves and reversed much of the damage to plant growth and photosynthesis caused by the plastic particles. The study suggests that nano-fertilizers could serve as a tool for managing nanoplastic stress in agricultural crops.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrating Chlorophyll a Fluorescence and Enzymatic Profiling to Reveal the Wheat Responses to Nano-ZnO Stress

Not relevant to microplastics — this study examines how different wheat cultivars respond to zinc oxide nanoparticle stress in soil, using chlorophyll fluorescence and enzyme activity to identify tolerant varieties.

2023 Plants 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Modification of Tomato Photosystem II Photochemistry with Engineered Zinc Oxide Nanorods

This paper is not about microplastics — it examines how zinc oxide nanorods coated with oleylamine affect photosynthesis in tomato plants, testing their potential as crop growth enhancers.

2023 Plants 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Vitamins E and C in Mitigating the Toxic Effects of Zinc Oxide Bulk and Nanoparticles on Fish: A Review

This paper is not relevant to microplastics — it is a review of how vitamins E and C can reduce the toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on fish in aquatic environments.

2023 Aquatic Science and Fish Resources (ASFR) /Aquatic Science and Fish Resources (ASFR)
Article Tier 2

Molecular Effects of Biogenic Zinc Nanoparticles on the Growth and Development of Brassica napus L. Revealed by Proteomics and Transcriptomics

This study investigated how biogenic zinc nanoparticles affect the growth and development of rapeseed plants using proteomics and transcriptomics approaches. While not directly focused on microplastics, the research contributes to understanding how nano-scale particles interact with plant biology at the molecular level.

2022 Frontiers in Plant Science 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Green synthesis of magnetic silver/zinc/iron nanocomposite mitigates detrimental effects of polymethyl methacrylate nanoplastics and Arsenic and ameliorates biochemical compositions in Triticum aestivum L

Researchers tested a plant-derived silver/zinc/iron nanocomposite (Ag/Zn/Fe) as a protective treatment for wheat exposed to both nanoplastics (PMMA particles) and arsenic, finding the nanocomposite reduced oxidative damage and heavy metal absorption in the plants, suggesting a potential agricultural tool to protect crops from combined plastic and heavy metal pollution.

2025 Plant Stress 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoparticles as catalysts of agricultural revolution: enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress: a review

This review looks at how nanoparticles can help crops withstand environmental stresses like drought, salt, and heavy metal contamination. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because nanoparticles and microplastics share similar size ranges and behaviors in soil, and understanding how tiny particles interact with plants helps scientists assess both the risks and potential benefits of nanoscale materials in agriculture.

2025 Frontiers in Plant Science 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Visual observation of polystyrene nano-plastics in grape seedlings of Thompson Seedless and assessing their effects via transcriptomics and metabolomics

Researchers demonstrated for the first time that polystyrene nanoplastics can be absorbed by grapevine roots and transported throughout the plant, reaching the leaves. The nanoplastics disrupted the plants' metabolism and activated stress-response pathways. This finding is important because it shows nanoplastics from contaminated soil could enter the food chain through grapes and other fruit crops.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Modulations in protein phosphorylation explain the physiological responses of barley (Hordeum vulgare) to nanoplastics and ZnO nanoparticles

Researchers examined how the co-exposure of barley plants to nanoplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles affects protein phosphorylation and physiological responses. The study found that the combination of nanomaterials increased oxidative stress and altered hormone levels more than individual exposures, suggesting that interactions between nanoplastics and other nanomaterials in the environment may amplify their effects on plant health.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoparticles in Agriculture: Enhancing Crop Resilience and Productivity against Abiotic Stresses

This review examines how engineered nanoparticles can help crops withstand environmental stresses like drought, salinity, and heavy metal contamination. While not focused on microplastics directly, it discusses how nanotechnology interacts with similar biological pathways that microplastics disrupt in plants. The review also raises important concerns about the potential toxicity and environmental impact of adding more nanoparticles to agricultural systems.

2024 IntechOpen eBooks 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Ameliorating arsenic and PVC microplastic stress in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) using copper oxide nanoparticles: an environmental bioremediation approach

Researchers studied the combined stress of PVC microplastics and arsenic on barley plants, along with the potential mitigating effect of copper oxide nanoparticles. They found that increasing levels of microplastics and arsenic significantly reduced plant growth, photosynthesis, and biomass while increasing oxidative stress markers. Application of copper oxide nanoparticles substantially improved plant health by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative damage.

2024 BMC Plant Biology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Particles rather than released Zn2+ from ZnO nanoparticles aggravate microplastics toxicity in early stages of exposed zebrafish and their unexposed offspring

Researchers investigated the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles on zebrafish embryos and their unexposed offspring. They found that ZnO particles adhered to microplastic surfaces and amplified toxic effects including growth inhibition, oxidative stress, and hormonal disruption, with impacts carrying over to the next generation. Interestingly, dissolved zinc ions actually reversed some microplastic toxicity, suggesting that it is the physical particles rather than the released zinc that drive the increased harm.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Aspersión foliar de nanoestructuras con zinc en plántulas de pepino (Cucumis sativus)

Not relevant to microplastics — this study tests the effects of zinc oxide nanostructures applied as foliar sprays on cucumber seedling growth, comparing different synthesis methods and a commercial zinc sulfate fertilizer.

2024 Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Zinc ions enhance tolerance to nanoplastics stress in rice seedlings: Advancing the development and optimization of traditional zinc fertilizers

Researchers tested whether traditional zinc sulfate fertilizer could help rice seedlings tolerate polystyrene microplastic stress, as an alternative to zinc oxide nanoparticles which carry their own environmental risks. They found that appropriate zinc levels reduced oxidative damage through different mechanisms in shoots versus roots, restoring photosynthesis and development. The findings offer a practical, lower-risk strategy for protecting crops from microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Dual regulation of pakchoi–soil systems by zinc oxide nanoparticles under polyethylene microplastics stress: Dose-dependent effects, microbial cascades, and risk propagation

Researchers studied how zinc oxide nanoparticles at different doses regulate the pakchoi-soil-microbe system under polyethylene microplastic stress, finding dose-dependent effects on plant antioxidant responses, nutrient uptake, and soil bacterial communities that reflect complex, interacting contamination risks.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

A Review on Crop Responses to Nanofertilizers for Mitigation of Multiple Environmental Stresses

This review examines how nanoscale fertilizers can help crops survive environmental stresses like drought, salt, and pollution by improving nutrient delivery at the cellular level. While focused on agricultural benefits, the research is relevant to microplastics because nanofertilizers may help plants cope with microplastic-contaminated soil. However, the authors caution that widespread use of nanoparticles in farming raises its own questions about potential effects on the environment and human health.

2023 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 31 citations
Article Tier 2

ZnO-loaded PVC microplastics increases soil Zn bioavailability and phytotoxicity

Researchers investigated how zinc oxide additives in PVC agricultural films affect soil health and plant growth after the plastic weathers and fragments. They found that UV-aged PVC microplastics containing zinc oxide significantly increased bioavailable zinc in soil, which in turn reduced maize productivity and altered soil microbial communities. The study demonstrates that metal additives in agricultural plastic films can amplify environmental harm as the plastics break down in the field.

2026 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Article Tier 2

Nanoparticles in Plants: Uptake, Transport and Physiological Activity in Leaf and Root

This review examines how nanoparticles are absorbed and transported through plant roots and leaves, and how they affect plant growth and health. Understanding nanoparticle uptake by crops is important because similar mechanisms may apply to nanoplastics, meaning tiny plastic particles in soil could potentially enter the food supply through plants.

2023 Materials 386 citations