Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduces bacterial and fungal biomass in microfabricated soil models

Researchers used micro-engineered soil models to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect soil bacteria and fungi. They found that nanoplastic exposure reduced both bacterial and fungal biomass, with bacteria showing a linear dose-dependent decline and fungi being affected even at the lowest concentrations. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in soil may suppress the microbial communities essential for healthy soil function.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on the microbiota and functional diversity of enzymes in soil

Polystyrene nanoparticles applied to soil at environmentally relevant concentrations caused significant reductions in microbial biomass and disrupted the activity of enzymes critical for nutrient cycling within 28 days. The study provides the first experimental evidence that nanoplastics can act as antimicrobial agents in soil, with potential consequences for soil fertility and ecosystem function.

2018 Environmental Sciences Europe 363 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different sizes of polystyrene micro(nano)plastics on soil microbial communities.

This study tested how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastic particles of three sizes affect soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling, finding that smaller particles caused greater disruption to nitrogen cycling and microbial activity. The results suggest that as plastics in soil fragment into smaller pieces over time, their impact on soil biology and fertility may worsen.

2023 NanoImpact
Article Tier 2

The Effect of Applying Model Nanoplastic Particles to Soil on the Composition of Its Microbial Community

Researchers conducted a one-month laboratory incubation experiment applying 0.55 µm polystyrene latex nanoplastics to soil to investigate effects on microbial community composition, finding that nanoplastic contamination altered soil microorganism diversity and activity in ways dependent on soil physicochemical properties and nanoplastic concentration.

2025 Applied Sciences
Article Tier 2

Divergent responses in microbial metabolic limitations and carbon use efficiency to variably sized polystyrene microplastics in soil

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics of all sizes disrupted soil microbe metabolism, but the smallest particles (nanoscale, 0.1 micrometers) caused the most stress. Smaller particles were more likely to enter microbial cells directly and reduce the efficiency with which soil microbes process carbon. This matters because soil microbes play a critical role in carbon cycling, and widespread microplastic contamination could affect how soil stores and releases carbon.

2024 Land Degradation and Development 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil microbial responses to nanoplastic particles investigated in transparent soil micromodels

Researchers used transparent soil micromodels to directly observe how nanoplastic particles affect soil bacteria at the pore scale, finding that nanoplastics reduced the motility and activity of Pseudomonas putida and altered its colonization patterns.

2024
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic-fungal interaction across different laboratory scales: Implications for transport in subsurface environments

This study examined how nanoplastics interact with fungi across different laboratory scales, focusing on the implications for how nanoplastics move through subsurface (underground) environments. Understanding fungal transport of nanoplastics is important because soil fungi form vast networks that could either trap or spread plastic particles through the ground and into groundwater.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic-fungal interaction across different laboratory scales: Implications for transport in subsurface environments

This study examined how nanoplastics interact with fungi across different laboratory scales, focusing on the implications for how nanoplastics move through subsurface (underground) environments. Understanding fungal transport of nanoplastics is important because soil fungi form vast networks that could either trap or spread plastic particles through the ground and into groundwater.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Time-resolved colonization patterns of bacteria and fungi on polystyrene microplastics in floodplain soils

Scientists studied how bacteria and fungi grow on tiny plastic particles (microplastics) buried in soil over several months. They found that these microbes form films on the plastic surfaces and some types can actually break down the plastic particles. This matters because microplastics are everywhere in our environment, and understanding how soil microbes interact with them could help us learn whether these plastics break down naturally or accumulate in ways that might affect our food and water.

2026
Article Tier 2

Palladium-doped and undoped polystyrene nanoplastics in a chronic toxicity test for higher plants: Impact on soil, plants and ammonium oxidizing bacteria

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on agricultural soils and plant growth using palladium-doped particles to enable tracking at environmentally realistic concentrations. The study found that nanoplastics can be taken up by plants and affect soil ammonium-oxidizing bacteria, with impacts varying depending on soil type and nanoplastic concentration.

2023 NanoImpact 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Nano- and Microplastic Contamination on Soil Organisms and Soil–Plant Systems

Nano- and microplastic contamination was found to negatively affect soil organic matter dynamics and the activity of soil organisms. The research adds to growing evidence that plastic particles impair the biological processes that maintain soil health and fertility.

2025 Microplastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Growth of grasses and forbs, nutrient concentration, and microbial activity in soil treated with microbeads

Researchers found that polyethylene and polystyrene microbeads in soil reduced plant biomass, altered microbial enzyme activity, and decreased nitrogen content, suggesting microplastics disrupt soil ecosystem functions across multiple nutrient cycling pathways.

2023 Environmental Pollution 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Two plant-growth-promoting Bacillus species can utilize nanoplastics

Researchers discovered that two species of Bacillus bacteria, commonly used to promote plant growth in agriculture, can break down polystyrene nanoplastics by oxidizing them. While high doses of nanoplastics initially harmed the bacteria, both species recovered and grew normally over time. The findings point to a potential biological approach for cleaning up nanoplastic pollution in agricultural soils.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Complex Bilateral Interactions Determine the Fate of Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics and Soil Protists: Implications from a Soil Amoeba

Researchers investigated how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics interact with a soil amoeba (Dictyostelium discoideum). The study found that even environmentally relevant concentrations of nano- and microplastics negatively affected the amoeba's fitness and development. The findings suggest complex bilateral interactions where protists can also influence the fate and distribution of plastic particles in soil environments.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the agronomic traits and rhizosphere soil microbial community of highland barley

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect highland barley growth and the microbial communities in surrounding soil. They found that smaller particles reduced grain weight while larger particles decreased spike dimensions, and all microplastic treatments significantly lowered soil bacterial diversity. The study also showed that adding degrading bacteria helped restore microbial community structure closer to normal conditions.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 50 citations
Article Tier 2

How do the Growth and Metabolic Activity of Aquatic fungi Geotrichum Candidum and Aspergillus Niger Respond to Nanoplastics?

This study exposed two aquatic fungal species, Geotrichum candidum and Aspergillus niger, to polystyrene and amine-modified polystyrene nanoparticles at environmental concentrations. Hormesis effects were observed at low PS concentrations for G. candidum growth, while A. niger was more sensitive, and both species showed altered enzyme activities involved in organic matter decomposition.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 8 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Ecotoxicological effects of plastics on plants, soil fauna and microorganisms: A meta-analysis

Meta-analysis of 2,936 observations from 140 studies found that plastics caused substantial detrimental effects to plants and soil fauna, but had less impact on microbial diversity. Larger plastics (>1 um) impaired plant growth and germination while nanoplastics primarily increased oxidative stress, and soil fauna reproduction and survival were more adversely affected by smaller particles.

2022 Environmental Pollution 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of micro(nano)plastics on soil nutrient cycling: State of the knowledge.

This review systematically examined how micro- and nano-plastics affect soil nutrient cycling for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, finding that physical interference with soil structure, alteration of microbial communities, and chemical toxicity collectively disrupt mineralization, nitrification, and phosphorus availability in contaminated soils.

2023 Journal of environmental management
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics alter ecosystem multifunctionality and may increase global warming potential

Researchers evaluated how positively and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics affect soil ecosystem functions, including nitrogen removal, greenhouse gas emissions, and microbial communities, with and without earthworms. The study found that nanoplastics significantly altered soil microbial community structure and ecosystem multifunctionality, with positively charged particles having more pronounced effects, and evidence indicating that nanoplastics may increase global warming potential through altered greenhouse gas emissions.

2023 Global Change Biology 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Nanoplastic Contamination on Rhizosphere Microbiome and Plant Phenotype

This study examined how nanoplastic contamination affects the rhizosphere microbiome (soil bacteria around plant roots) and plant growth. Nanoplastic exposure altered soil microbial communities and reduced plant growth, suggesting these tiny plastic particles could disrupt the soil ecosystems that support food production.

2023
Article Tier 2

Interactions between bacteria and nano (micro)-sized polystyrene particles by bacterial responses and microscopy

Researchers studied how bacteria interact with polystyrene particles ranging from 60 to 2,260 nanometers and found that the smallest particles entered bacterial cells while larger ones accumulated on surfaces. The 1,040-nanometer particles, similar in size to the bacteria themselves, inhibited growth most strongly, and bacteria responded by forming biofilm complexes around the microplastics.

2022 Chemosphere 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of nanoplastics on the transport of platinum-based pharmaceuticals in water-saturated natural soil and their effect on a soil microbial community

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the transport of three platinum-based anticancer drugs through water-saturated natural soil and found that nanoplastic surface functionalization altered drug mobility and affected the soil microbial community.

2020 Environmental Science Nano 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Interference of microplastics on autotrophic microbiome in paddy soils: Shifts in carbon fixation rate, structure, abundance, co-occurrence, and assembly process

Researchers found that both conventional polystyrene and biodegradable PHBV microplastics significantly reduced carbon fixation rates in paddy soil by disrupting autotrophic microbial communities. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may impair natural carbon sequestration processes, with polystyrene having a stronger inhibitory effect than biodegradable alternatives in bulk soil.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nanopolystyrene addition on nitrogen fertilizer fate, gaseous loss of N from the soil, and soil microbial community composition

Researchers found that nanopolystyrene particles added to agricultural soil disrupted nitrogen cycling by altering microbial community composition and increasing gaseous nitrogen losses, potentially reducing fertilizer efficiency and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in agroecosystems.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 35 citations