Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Multiple endpoints of polyethylene microplastics toxicity in vascular plants of freshwater ecosystems: A study involving Salvinia auriculata (Salviniaceae)

Researchers exposed the freshwater plant Salvinia auriculata to polyethylene microplastics for 28 days and observed reduced growth, thinner leaf tissue, and structural damage to cells. The study found that microplastics adhered to leaf and root surfaces, causing chlorophyll loss, cell membrane damage, and oxidative stress in the plants.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 23 citations
Article Tier 2

The Response of Duckweed Lemna minor to Microplastics and Its Potential Use as a Bioindicator of Microplastic Pollution

Researchers tested duckweed Lemna minor as a bioindicator for freshwater microplastic pollution by exposing it to polyethylene microbeads, tire wear particles, PET fibers, and natural particles. Polyethylene microbeads adhered to duckweed at 10 times the rate of other particles and reduced root length, suggesting duckweed could serve as a practical monitor for the dominant polyethylene microplastics in freshwater.

2022 Plants 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of polyethylene microbeads on the floating freshwater plant duckweed Lemna minor

Researchers exposed duckweed — a small floating freshwater plant — to polyethylene microbeads from cosmetics and found that the beads adhered to the plant surface and reduced growth at higher concentrations. The study highlights how primary microplastics from consumer products can affect freshwater plants even at relatively low doses.

2017 Environmental Pollution 431 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastics on aquatic plants

This review examines the toxic effects of microplastics on freshwater and aquatic plants, which are often the first organisms exposed in aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics can reduce plant growth, disrupt photosynthesis, and affect nutrient uptake, with effects varying by polymer type and particle size.

2023 Repository of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
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

Investigating the ecotoxicological effects of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and polyethylene (PE) on the floating aquatic plant, Lemna minor.

Researchers tested the effects of dimethyl phthalate and polyethylene microplastic fragments on the aquatic plant Lemna minor, finding that while polyethylene showed limited dose-response effects, it did significantly alter chlorophyll content, while the phthalate produced more consistent toxic responses across growth parameters.

2025
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastics interfere with the nutrient cycle in water-plant-sediment systems

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics affect nutrient cycling in freshwater systems containing submerged plants and sediment. They found that the microplastics significantly reduced nitrogen and carbon content in plant leaves and disrupted the microbial communities in sediment responsible for nutrient processing. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution can interfere with fundamental biogeochemical cycles that maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems.

2022 Water Research 122 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on the growth of sediment-rooted macrophytes

Both nano- and microplastic particles negatively affected the growth of freshwater macrophytes in sediment-rooted experiments, with nanoplastics causing more pronounced effects at lower concentrations. The findings highlight that aquatic plants, which form the base of many freshwater food webs, are vulnerable to plastic particle pollution.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 304 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of different types of microplastic particles by macrophytes of Lake Baikal

Researchers experimentally investigated the adsorption of different microplastic particle types by submerged macrophyte species from Lake Baikal, finding that macrophytes can accumulate microplastics on their surfaces with implications for aquatic plant health and associated ecological communities in this unique ecosystem.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of different types of microplastic particles by macrophytes of Lake Baikal

Researchers experimentally investigated the adsorption of different microplastic particle types by submerged macrophyte species from Lake Baikal, finding that macrophytes can accumulate microplastics on their surfaces with implications for aquatic plant health and associated ecological communities in this unique ecosystem.

2025 Acta Biologica Sibirica (Altai State University)
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastic Contamination on the Aquatic Plant Lemna minuta (Least Duckweed)

Researchers tested the effects of microplastic contamination on the aquatic plant Lemna minuta, commonly known as least duckweed. The study found that exposure to microplastics affected plant growth and caused biochemical changes including altered chlorophyll levels over a 28-day period. The results suggest that microplastics can interfere with freshwater plant health, potentially disrupting aquatic ecosystems.

2023 Plants 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Freshwater alga Raphidocelis subcapitata undergoes metabolomic changes in response to electrostatic adhesion by micrometer-sized nylon 6 particles

Researchers found that nylon 6 microplastic particles — commonly used in cosmetics — stuck to freshwater algae cells through electrical attraction, cutting algae growth by 54% and triggering stress responses in the cells' chemistry. This study highlights how nylon microplastics from personal care products can harm microscopic plant life in rivers and lakes.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Leaf morphology affects microplastic entrapment efficiency in freshwater macrophytes

Researchers found that leaf morphology significantly affects the ability of freshwater macrophytes (aquatic plants) to trap microplastics, with leaf shape and surface texture influencing particle capture efficiency. The findings suggest that aquatic vegetation plays an underappreciated role in microplastic retention and transport in freshwater ecosystems.

2023 Marine and Freshwater Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Responses of submerged plant Vallisneria natans growth and leaf biofilms to water contaminated with microplastics

Researchers exposed the submerged aquatic plant Vallisneria natans to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics and observed increased antioxidant enzyme activity and cellular organelle damage. The microplastics also altered the microbial community composition on leaf biofilms. The findings indicate that even moderate microplastic concentrations can disrupt plant defense mechanisms and shift the microbial ecology of aquatic environments.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of the effects of tire wear particles on the freshwater macrophyte under different exposure scenarios

Researchers compared the effects of tire wear particles on the freshwater macrophyte Lemna minor and other aquatic plants, examining how the complex composition of tire-derived microplastics affects plant growth and physiology. Tire wear particles showed toxicity to aquatic plants at environmentally relevant concentrations, with chemical leachates contributing to the observed effects.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastics adhere to Lemna minor (L.), yet have no effects on plant growth or feeding by Gammarus duebeni (Lillj.)

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics readily adhered to all surfaces of the duckweed species Lemna minor but did not affect the plant's photosynthetic efficiency or growth over seven days. When microplastic-coated duckweed was fed to the freshwater amphipod Gammarus duebeni, the animals showed no changes in feeding behavior. The study suggests that aquatic plants may serve as vectors for microplastic transfer through freshwater food webs, even without being directly harmed.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 290 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

Comparison of the effects of tire wear particles on the freshwater macrophyte under different exposure scenarios

Researchers compared effects of tire wear particles on the freshwater macrophyte Lemna minor and other aquatic plants, examining how tire-derived microplastics with their complex rubber and additive composition affect primary producers. Tire wear particles inhibited aquatic plant growth, with both the rubber particles themselves and leachate chemicals contributing to phytotoxic effects.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Phytotoxicity of microplastics to the floating plant Spirodela polyrhiza (L.): Plant functional traits and metabolomics

Researchers exposed the aquatic plant duckweed to PVC microplastics and found that high concentrations severely stunted root growth by 42% and leaf reproduction by 61%. The microplastics disrupted the plant's carbon, nitrogen, and lipid metabolism, interfering with its ability to accumulate nutrients. Since aquatic plants are important for water ecosystems and can enter human food chains, this damage could have ripple effects on water quality and food safety.

2023 Environmental Pollution 65 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of microplastics size and type on entrapment by freshwater macrophytes under vertical and lateral deposition

Researchers investigated how microplastic particle size and polymer type affect entrapment by freshwater macrophytes, finding that certain aquatic plant species preferentially intercepted specific particle sizes and that plant morphology determined capture efficiency across MPs of varying dimensions.

2025 Journal of Limnology 2 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Bioavailability and phytotoxicity of micro/nanoplastics to aquatic plants: Trends, environmental drivers and mechanisms

This meta-analysis found that micro- and nanoplastics cause significant harm to aquatic plants, reducing their biomass and chlorophyll content through oxidative stress. Polyethylene was especially damaging, cutting plant biomass by over 42%. When plastic pollution harms the base of aquatic food chains, the effects can ripple upward through ecosystems that support both wildlife and human food sources.

2025 Chemical Engineering Journal 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The dual impact of tire wear microplastics on the growth and ecological interactions of duckweed Lemna minor

Researchers investigated how tire wear microplastics affect the growth and ecological interactions of duckweed, a common aquatic plant. They found that untreated and aged tire particles had the most harmful effects, reducing plant growth and impairing root development, while hydrated particles were less damaging. The study reveals that the condition of tire wear microplastics when they enter waterways significantly influences their impact on aquatic plant life.

2025 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic interactions with freshwater microalgae: Hetero-aggregation and changes in plastic density appear strongly dependent on polymer type

Researchers studied interactions between microplastics and freshwater microalgae, finding that microplastics can physically attach to algal cells to form hetero-aggregates, altering both particle behavior and algal physiology.

2016 Environmental Pollution 704 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effect of plastic pollution on freshwater flora: A meta-analysis approach to elucidate the factors influencing plant growth and biochemical markers

Meta-analysis of 43 studies found that higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics negatively affected aquatic plant growth while increasing protein content and antioxidant enzyme activity as a stress response. Among polymers, PVC most strongly disrupted photosynthetic pigments, and algal species were the most growth-sensitive plant group.

2022 Water Research 40 citations