Papers

20 results
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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

Integrated physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic responses of maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) to nanoplastic-induced stress

Researchers exposed maize and soybean crops to polyethylene and polypropylene nanoplastics in soil and found that high concentrations suppressed plant growth and caused oxidative stress in both species. The nanoplastics accumulated in plant roots and disrupted normal gene activity and metabolism, with soybeans being more sensitive than maize. These findings raise concerns about food crop quality and safety as nanoplastic contamination of agricultural soil increases.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic insight into the intensification of arsenic toxicity to rice (Oryza sativa L.) by nanoplastic: Phytohormone and glutathione metabolism modulation

Nanoplastics at environmentally realistic levels did not harm rice plants on their own, but when combined with arsenic they made arsenic toxicity significantly worse, reducing plant growth by up to 23%. The nanoplastics increased arsenic uptake by disrupting plant hormones and weakening the plant's natural detoxification systems. This is concerning because rice is a staple food for billions of people, and agricultural soils increasingly contain both nanoplastics and heavy metals.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 22 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
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Meta-analysis reveals the combined effects of microplastics and heavy metal on plants

A meta-analysis of 57 studies found that the combined toxicity of microplastics and heavy metals on plants is driven primarily by the heavy metals, while microplastics mainly interact by inducing oxidative stress damage. Microplastic biodegradation emerged as a core factor influencing heavy metal accumulation in plants, with culture environment, heavy metal type, exposure duration, and microplastic concentration and size all playing roles.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of nanoplastics uptake on modulation of plant metabolism and stress responses: a multi-omics perspective on remediation and tolerance mechanisms

Researchers reviewed how nanoplastics accumulate in plant tissues and disrupt metabolism, finding that these particles impair nutrient uptake, trigger reactive oxygen species overproduction, and alter gene and protein expression, while multi-omics approaches are revealing the molecular stress-response networks that plants use to tolerate or remediate nanoplastic contamination.

2026 Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants
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

Effects of nanoplastics and compound pollutants containing nanoplastics on plants, microorganisms and rhizosphere systems: A review

This review summarizes how nanoplastics, the tiniest plastic particles, affect plants, soil microorganisms, and the root zone where they interact. Nanoplastics can disrupt photosynthesis, alter gene activity, and reduce microbial diversity, and their harmful effects get worse when they combine with heavy metals or other pollutants. Since plant roots are a key pathway for nanoplastics to enter the food chain, these effects could ultimately impact the safety and nutritional quality of the food we eat.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Interacting Effects of Heat and Nanoplastics Affect Wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) Seedling Growth and Physiology

Researchers exposed wheat seedlings to polystyrene nanoplastics under both normal (25°C) and elevated (35°C) temperature conditions to test whether heat stress and nanoplastic exposure interact to worsen plant health. They found that the combination of heat and nanoplastics caused greater oxidative stress and growth impairment than either stressor alone, suggesting that climate change could amplify the agricultural damage caused by nanoplastic pollution. This matters because global warming and plastic pollution are both worsening simultaneously, and crops are caught in the crossfire.

2025 Plants 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of individual and combined polystyrene nanoplastics and phenanthrene on the enzymology, physiology, and transcriptome parameters of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Researchers conducted a hydroponic experiment to evaluate how polystyrene nanoplastics and phenanthrene, individually and in combination, affect rice plants. The study examined effects on enzyme activity, plant physiology, and gene expression over seven days. Evidence indicates that the combination of nanoplastics with organic pollutants can produce different impacts on crop growth compared to either contaminant alone.

2022 Chemosphere 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrated physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolic analysis reveals the effects of nanoplastics exposure on tea plants

Researchers used physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolic analysis to assess the effects of nano/microplastics on tea plants, finding impaired photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and disrupted metabolic pathways at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study highlights risks to tea crop safety and quality from plastic pollution in agricultural soils.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Alleviation ofNanoplastic Stress in Rice: Evidencefrom Biochemical, Cytological, Physiological, and Transcriptome Analysis

Researchers investigated nanoplastic stress responses and mitigation strategies in two rice cultivars through biochemical, cytological, physiological, and transcriptome analyses, testing whether molybdenum oxide nanoparticles could alleviate toxicity via heteroaggregation with nanoplastics. Results confirmed nMo reduced oxidative damage markers and that the wild-derived cultivar S18 maintained better physiological function under combined nMo and nanoplastic treatment than cultivated rice.

2025 Figshare
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

Effects of nanoplastics on the growth, transcription, and metabolism of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and synergistic effects in the presence of iron plaque and humic acid

This study examined how nanoplastics affect rice plant growth, finding that the tiny particles were absorbed by roots and entered plant cells. Nanoplastic exposure reduced important enzyme activity and protein levels in roots, disrupting normal plant metabolism. The presence of iron plaque and humic acid in the soil changed how much nanoplastic the plants took up, suggesting that real-world soil conditions play a key role in how crops are affected.

2024 Environmental Pollution 9 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

The effects of Micro/Nano-plastics exposure on plants and their toxic mechanisms: A review from multi-omics perspectives.

A multi-omics review of micro/nanoplastic effects on plants found that plastic exposure disrupts gene expression, protein function, and metabolic pathways across multiple plant systems, with potential consequences for crop yield and agricultural food safety.

2024 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

Toxicity Induced by Micro-and Nanoplastics through Oxidative Stress: The Role of Co-Exposure to Other Chemical Pollutants

This review examined how micro- and nanoplastics cause oxidative stress — a form of cellular damage — in living organisms, particularly when combined with other chemical pollutants in the environment. Co-exposure to microplastics and chemicals like pesticides or heavy metals tends to be more damaging than either pollutant alone.

2021 International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Revealing the metabolomics and biometrics underlying phytotoxicity mechanisms for polystyrene nanoplastics and dibutyl phthalate in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and a common plasticizer called dibutyl phthalate affect dandelion plants, both individually and in combination. They found that combined exposure significantly impaired plant growth, triggered oxidative stress, and disrupted key metabolic pathways more severely than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of nanoplastics and plastic additives in soil may pose compounding risks to plant health.

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

Nanoplastic–plant interaction and implications for soil health

This review summarizes research on how nanoplastics interact with plants in soil environments, finding that these tiny particles can be taken up by roots and transported to all plant organs, including edible parts like grain. Researchers found that nanoplastics induce oxidative stress in plants, inhibiting photosynthesis and growth, and can also carry other soil pollutants into plant tissues. The study highlights significant concerns about nanoplastic contamination entering the food chain through agricultural crops.

2022 Soil Use and Management 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological effects and transcriptome mechanisms of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under stress of quinclorac and polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers found that combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and the herbicide quinclorac caused greater toxicity to rice than either stressor alone, with transcriptome analysis revealing disrupted pathways in photosynthesis, oxidative stress response, and hormone signaling.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 25 citations