Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The impacts of nanoplastic toxicity on the accumulation, hormonal regulation and tolerance mechanisms in a potential hyperaccumulator - Lemna minor L.

Researchers studied the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the freshwater plant Lemna minor, a species used extensively in phytoremediation. The study found that nanoplastic exposure affected plant growth and triggered hormonal responses, while also revealing tolerance mechanisms that the plant employs to cope with nanoplastic stress.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Trade-off of abiotic stress response in floating macrophytes as affected by nanoplastic enrichment

Researchers exposed water hyacinth plants to polystyrene nanoplastics at varying concentrations for 28 days. They found that while the plants removed 61-91% of nanoplastics from the water, the particles reduced plant biomass, impaired photosynthesis, and caused oxidative stress in roots and leaves. The study suggests that floating plants in constructed wetlands can help filter nanoplastics but experience significant physiological trade-offs in the process.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics inDuckweed: Single-Cell Responses andRecovery

This study examined how polystyrene nanoplastics affect duckweed at the single-cell level, documenting photosynthetic disruption and oxidative stress, as well as partial recovery after exposure ceased. The results indicate aquatic macrophytes have some resilience to nanoplastic stress but can sustain lasting cellular damage at higher doses.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Negative impacts of nanoplastics on the purification function of submerged plants in constructed wetlands: Responses of oxidative stress and metabolic processes

Researchers exposed a submerged aquatic plant commonly used in constructed wetlands to polystyrene nanoplastics and measured the impacts on growth, photosynthesis, and metabolism. They found that nanoplastics were absorbed and transported throughout the plant, reducing growth by up to 73 percent and disrupting key metabolic pathways including the citric acid cycle. The study suggests that nanoplastic accumulation in wetland plants could compromise their ability to purify water.

2022 Water Research 75 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on plants in the scenario of increasing temperatures: The case of Azolla filiculoides Lam

Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and elevated temperatures on the aquatic fern Azolla filiculoides. They found that higher temperatures amplified the toxic effects of nanoplastics on plant growth and photosynthetic performance. The study suggests that climate change may worsen the environmental impact of nanoplastic pollution on aquatic plant communities.

2024 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

[Effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on the growth, physiology, and biochemical characteristics of Hydrilla verticillata].

Researchers exposed an aquatic plant to increasing concentrations of polystyrene microplastics and found that high doses stunted plant height, reduced chlorophyll, and impaired photosynthesis. Submerged aquatic plants form the base of freshwater food webs, and their disruption by microplastic pollution could cascade through aquatic ecosystems.

2021 PubMed 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Unraveling the toxic mechanisms of microplastics in aquatic ecosystem: A case study on Vallisneria natans and Myriophyllum verticillatum

Researchers exposed two submerged aquatic plant species (Vallisneria natans and Myriophyllum verticillatum) to PVC, polystyrene, and polyethylene microplastics at three concentrations, finding that all three types significantly inhibited photosynthesis and growth and triggered oxidative stress, with effects varying by plastic type and plant species.

2025 Environmental Pollution 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics cause growth inhibition, morphological damage and physiological disturbance in the marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica

Researchers exposed marine green microalgae to polystyrene nanoplastics and found significant growth inhibition, increased membrane permeability, disrupted photosynthesis, and visible morphological damage — including surface fragmentation and cellular rupture — at concentrations as low as 200 µg/L.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Short Duration Exposure of 3 µm Polystyrene Microplastics Affected Morphology and Physiology of Watermilfoil (sp. Roraima)

Short-term exposure to 3-micrometer polystyrene microplastics altered the growth and physiology of a freshwater aquatic plant (Watermilfoil). The findings suggest that microplastics can harm freshwater vegetation even at brief exposure levels, with potential effects on aquatic ecosystem function.

2021
Article Tier 2

Physiobiochemical and transcriptional responses of tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) to different doses of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers examined how different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics affect tobacco plant growth at both the physiological and molecular levels. They found that higher doses caused oxidative stress, reduced photosynthesis, and triggered significant changes in gene expression related to stress responses. The study reveals that nanoplastic toxicity in plants is dose-dependent and involves complex molecular mechanisms beyond simple physical damage.

2024 Industrial Crops and Products 17 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on physiological and biochemical parameters of the microalgae Spirulina platensis

Researchers exposed the microalgae Spirulina platensis to polystyrene nanoplastics at three concentrations over 20 days and found dose-dependent reductions in growth rate, dry weight, and photosynthetic pigments alongside increased oxidative stress markers, indicating nanoplastics impair algal physiology even at relatively low exposure levels.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on lignin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.)

Researchers exposed Arabidopsis plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles penetrate root tissues and trigger a concentration-dependent buildup of lignin — the structural polymer that stiffens plant cell walls — as a defensive stress response, accompanied by increased oxidative damage markers and upregulation of lignin-biosynthesis genes.

2026 Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants
Article Tier 2

Persistence of algal toxicity induced by polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations

Researchers studied whether the harmful effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on marine algae are temporary or long-lasting. They found that while some damage, like oxidative stress, was reversible after exposure ended, other effects such as increased cell membrane damage persisted. The study suggests that even at low, environmentally realistic concentrations, nanoplastics can cause lasting disruption to algal metabolism and cell function.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Do Polystyrene Nanoplastics Have Similar Effects on Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) at Environmentally Relevant and Observed-Effect Concentrations?

Researchers compared the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on duckweed (Lemna minor) at environmentally relevant concentrations versus the higher observed-effect concentrations typically used in studies. The study found that both positively and negatively charged nanoplastics produced different biological responses depending on concentration levels. The findings highlight the importance of testing at environmentally realistic concentrations to accurately assess nanoplastic risks to aquatic plants.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Short-duration exposure of 3-µm polystyrene microplastics affected morphology and physiology of watermilfoil (sp. roraima)

Short-duration exposure to 3-micrometer polystyrene microplastics affected the morphology and physiology of the freshwater macrophyte watermilfoil, with dose-dependent effects observed at concentrations from 0.05 to 1.25 mg/L under controlled conditions.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics in Duckweed: Single-Cell Responses and Recovery

This study investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on duckweed (Lemna) at the single-cell level, finding dose-dependent disruption of photosynthesis and oxidative stress responses. Notably, duckweed showed partial recovery after nanoplastic exposure ended, indicating some resilience in aquatic macrophytes.

2025 ACS Nano
Article Tier 2

Response strategies of stem/leaves endophyte communities to nano-plastics regulate growth performance of submerged macrophytes.

Nano-polystyrene exposure changed the composition and activity of endophytic bacterial communities in the stems and leaves of aquatic macrophytes, with some endophyte shifts helping plants maintain growth by modulating stress responses, revealing a microbiome-mediated tolerance mechanism.

2024 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

The threat of micro/nanoplastic to aquatic plants: current knowledge, gaps, and future perspectives

This review summarizes what is known about how micro- and nanoplastics affect aquatic plants, including how plants absorb these particles through roots and leaves and transport them internally. Exposure can alter plant growth, photosynthesis, and interactions with other organisms, though effects vary widely depending on plastic type and concentration. The authors highlight major research gaps and call for more studies on real-world conditions rather than controlled lab settings.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Foliar implications of polystyrene nanoplastics on leafy vegetables and its ecological consequences

Scientists applied polystyrene nanoplastics to four common leafy vegetables and found that the tiny particles accumulated on leaf surfaces, particularly around the pores plants use to breathe. This accumulation reduced the plants' chlorophyll content and ability to photosynthesize, affecting their growth and nutritional quality. The findings raise concerns that airborne nanoplastic pollution could compromise the safety and nutritional value of the vegetables people eat.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracing and trapping micro- and nanoplastics: Untapped mitigation potential of aquatic plants?

Researchers used fluorescently labeled polystyrene particles to trace microplastic and nanoplastic uptake in three aquatic plant species, finding that nanoplastics concentrated primarily in roots via apoplastic transport with bioconcentration factors up to 306, suggesting floating plants like water hyacinth may be useful for removing plastic from contaminated water.

2023 Water Research 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics' accumulation in roots induces adverse physiological and molecular effects in water spinach Ipomoea aquatica Forsk

Researchers exposed water spinach to polystyrene nanoplastics in a hydroponic experiment and tracked where the particles accumulated in the plant. They found that nanoplastics built up primarily in the roots, causing reduced growth, impaired photosynthesis, and disrupted antioxidant defense systems. The study raises concerns about nanoplastic uptake by edible aquatic vegetables and the potential implications for food safety.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and combined toxicity effects of nanoplastics and bisphenol F on submerged the macrophyte Hydrilla verticillata

Researchers investigated the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and bisphenol F on the aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata, finding that nanoplastics alone and in combination with BPF significantly reduced growth rates and chlorophyll content, while BPF alone had no impact.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics to submerged carnivorous Utricularia vulgaris plants in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers exposed the aquatic carnivorous plant Utricularia vulgaris to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations for seven days. The study found that microplastic exposure affected plant growth rate and caused morphological and physiological changes, providing early evidence that freshwater plants can be negatively impacted by microplastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Pollution 139 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and PCB-52 to the aquatic duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics and PCB-52 act synergistically to impair the aquatic plant Spirodela polyrhiza, with combined exposure amplifying oxidative stress, chlorophyll loss, and osmotic imbalance in roots beyond what either pollutant caused alone — while low nanoplastic doses alone mildly stimulated growth.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations