Papers

20 results
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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

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

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

PVC Inhibits Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) Seedling Growth by Interfering with Plant Hormone Signal Transduction and Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis

Researchers found that PVC nanoplastics significantly inhibited radish seedling growth by disrupting plant hormone signaling and a key pathway involved in building cell walls. Using multiple analytical approaches, they showed that the nanoplastics caused oxidative stress, altered gene expression, and changed the plants' metabolic profiles. The study raises concerns about the overlooked toxicity of PVC agricultural mulch as it breaks down into tiny plastic particles in farm soils.

2025 Horticulturae 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of photoaged polyvinyl chloride microplastics to wheat seedling roots

Sunlight-aged PVC microplastics were found to be more toxic to wheat seedling roots than fresh PVC particles, with the aged particles stunting root growth by up to 7.5%. The toxicity came from both physical damage caused by smaller broken-down particles and chemical harm from additives that leached out of the aging plastic. This research matters because PVC is one of the most common microplastics in farm soil, and its increasing toxicity with age could affect crop health and food production.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastic on growth, photosynthesis and nutrient uptake of Solanum lycopersicum L. (Tomato)

Adding PVC microplastics to soil reduced tomato plant growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake in a dose-dependent manner, even though no visible damage appeared on the leaves. At the molecular level, the microplastics disrupted genes and proteins involved in photosynthesis and nutrient absorption. This matters for food safety because microplastics in agricultural soils could reduce crop yields and potentially enter the food supply.

2024 Environmental Pollution 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological responses of garden cress (L. sativum) to different types of microplastics

Researchers tested the effects of four common types of microplastics on garden cress plants and found that PVC was the most toxic, causing the greatest oxidative stress and growth inhibition. Both acute and chronic exposure to microplastics affected seed germination, plant height, biomass, and levels of stress-response compounds in the plants. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that microplastics can trigger oxidative damage in terrestrial plants, with implications for agricultural ecosystems.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 371 citations
Article Tier 2

Inhibition of Peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth, Development,and Promotion of Root Nodulation IncludingPlant Nitrogen Uptake Triggered by Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics

Researchers investigated the impact of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3.5% on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growth, development, root nodulation, and nitrogen uptake. They found that PVC microplastics inhibited above-ground plant growth while promoting root nodule formation, indicating that soil microplastic contamination can disrupt plant physiology and nitrogen cycling in agricultural systems.

2025 Figshare
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

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

Assessing the impact of micro and nanoplastics on the productivity of vegetable crops in terrestrial horticulture: a comprehensive review

This review summarizes research on how micro and nanoplastics accumulate in farmland and get absorbed by vegetable crops through their roots, building up in the edible parts of the plants. The plastic particles cause toxic effects that stunt plant growth by disrupting cellular processes and gene activity. This means the vegetables people eat may contain microplastics picked up from contaminated soil.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 5 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

Natural Aging IntensifiesMicroplastic Phytotoxicityin Brassica chinensis

Researchers compared pristine and artificially aged polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics applied to pak choi (Brassica chinensis) in soil over 45 days. Aged MPs with oxidised surfaces caused stronger phytotoxicity than pristine MPs, reducing plant biomass and disrupting soil enzyme activity, demonstrating that environmental weathering worsens MP impacts on crops.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 70 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

Effect of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics on radish and carrot growth, nutrient uptake, and physiological stress responses

Researchers exposed radish and carrot seedlings to PET microplastics (0.1 g/L) for one week and measured growth, nutrient uptake, and stress markers. While plant biomass was unaffected, chlorophyll levels dropped and oxidative stress indicators rose significantly, showing physiological harm even without visible growth effects.

2025 Applied Biological Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Natural Aging Intensifies Microplastic Phytotoxicity in Brassica chinensis

Researchers compared the effects of pristine and naturally aged polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics on Chinese cabbage growth and soil health over a 45-day experiment. They found that aged microplastics with oxidized surfaces caused significantly more plant damage, reducing biomass and chlorophyll content more than their pristine counterparts. The study suggests that as microplastics weather in agricultural soils, they may become increasingly harmful to crops.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Inhibition of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth, Development, and Promotion of Root Nodulation Including Plant Nitrogen Uptake Triggered by Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics

Researchers investigated the impact of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics at four dosages (0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3.5%) on the growth, development, root nodulation, and nitrogen uptake of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants. They found that PVC microplastics inhibited plant growth and development while paradoxically promoting root nodulation, suggesting complex soil-plant-microbiome interactions that could have implications for nitrogen cycling and food security in contaminated agricultural soils.

2025 ACS Omega
Article Tier 2

Assessment of physiological stress on plants grown in soil contaminated with microplastics

Researchers tested how three types of microplastics (PET, HDPE, and polyester) affect the growth and health of spring onion and okra plants. They found that all microplastic types reduced chlorophyll levels, increased oxidative stress, and stunted plant growth, with HDPE and polyester causing the most damage. The study highlights the potential ecological risks microplastics pose to vegetable crops grown in contaminated soil.

2025 Scientific Reports 1 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