Papers

20 results
|
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics aerial deposition on rhizosphere soil ecology: the case study of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) exposed to polyethylene

Researchers investigated the impact of aerial polyethylene microsphere deposition on tomato plants at concentrations of 10, 100, and 1000 mg/L, finding that while shoot biomass was unaffected, exposure significantly altered root metabolite profiles (increasing amino acids, decreasing fatty acids and organic acids) and shifted rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community composition.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Effects of microplastics polluted soil on the growth of Solanum lycopersicum L.

This study tested how microplastic-contaminated soil affects tomato plant growth, finding that higher concentrations of plastic particles in soil reduced plant height, root development, and overall crop health. The results suggest that microplastic pollution in farmland could reduce food crop yields and potentially affect the quality of the produce we eat.

2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 8 citations
Article Tier 2

MICROPLÁSTICOS Y NANOPLÁSTICOS: UNA REVISIÓN SISTEMÁTICA DE SU IMPACTO EN EL CRECIMIENTO DE TOMATE (Solanum lycopersicum)

This systematic review analysed published studies on the effects of synthetic microplastics and nanoplastics on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth, examining how polymer type, particle size, concentration, and growth medium modulate phytotoxicity. The review found that MP and NP exposure consistently impaired biomass accumulation, plant height, flower and fruit production, and root and shoot length, with higher concentrations and smaller particle sizes generally producing the most pronounced negative effects.

2025 Revista Ciencia e Innovación Agroalimentaria de la Universidad de Guanajuato
Article Tier 2

Efecto fitotóxico del material particulado PM2,5 y PM10 en la ciudad de Juliaca, Perú

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it studies the phytotoxic effects of atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) on plants in the city of Juliaca, Peru, examining morphological and biochemical changes caused by air pollution particles.

2023 Boletín de Malariología y Salud Ambiental
Article Tier 2

Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention

This study assessed airborne microplastic accumulation on the leaves of ten urban plant species in an Indian city, finding fragments and films were most abundant, and that leaf functional traits (surface texture, wax content) significantly influenced both microplastic retention and the plants' biochemical stress responses.

2025 Atmosphere 2 citations
Article Tier 2

An Impact Of Microplastic And Microplastic + Lead Induced Toxicity On Growth Parameters And Chlorophyll Content Of Tomato Plant: (Comparison Study)

Researchers grew tomato plants in soil spiked with polyethylene microplastics alone and combined with lead nitrate at multiple concentrations to compare their toxicity. Both treatments reduced shoot length, fresh and dry weight, and chlorophyll content in a dose-dependent manner, with the combined microplastic-plus-lead treatment causing more severe harm than either pollutant alone.

2025 African Journal of Biomedical Research
Article Tier 2

From the shoot to the rhizosphere: The short-term cascade impact of aerial microplastic

Researchers tested how foliar polyethylene microsphere exposure in tomato plants cascades from leaf physiological changes to altered root metabolite composition and root-associated microbiome structure, finding that aerial MP exposure reshapes plant-soil interactions through systemic signaling.

2025 Environmental and Experimental Botany
Article Tier 2

The multifaceted mechanisms of microplastic inhibition of tomato plant growth: oxidative toxicity, metabolic perturbation, and photosynthetic damage

Researchers exposed tomato seedlings to biodegradable and conventional microplastics and investigated photosynthetic performance, metabolic disruption, and oxidative stress responses. Both microplastic types inhibited tomato growth and caused oxidative damage, with impacts on the photosynthetic apparatus and metabolite profiles, challenging the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safer for agricultural systems.

2025 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic insights into the size-dependent bioaccumulation and phytotoxicity of polyethylene microplastics in tomato seedlings

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics of different sizes affect tomato seedlings and found that the smallest particles (1-50 micrometers) caused the most severe damage, reducing shoot weight by 42.3% and root length by 55.1%. The study revealed that microplastic uptake and toxicity are strongly size-dependent, with smaller particles more easily absorbed and translocated through plant tissues, triggering significant oxidative stress.

2026 Frontiers in Plant Science
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on tomato plant growth, fruit yield and quality

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect tomato plant growth and fruit quality, finding that exposure reduced seedling biomass, impaired photosynthesis, and triggered oxidative stress. At higher concentrations, the nanoplastics inhibited mineral uptake and diminished fruit yield along with nutritional quality markers like vitamin C and lycopene. The study highlights that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could pose a meaningful threat to food crop productivity and nutritional value.

2026 Food Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Impact of tire particles and tire leachate contaminants on plant physiology and soil health: Case study in mung bean and tomato

Researchers compared how tire particles and tire leachate affect two crop species, finding that tomatoes mount a successful antioxidant defense and maintain growth while mung beans suffer severe oxidative damage and chlorophyll loss, and that the water-soluble leachate fraction poses the greatest acute risk — underscoring the need for species-specific risk assessment of tire-derived pollution near agricultural land.

2025 NanoImpact 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Researchers found that low-density polyethylene microplastics inhibited tobacco plant growth in hydroponics, with high concentrations (1,000 mg/L) reducing chlorophyll content, disrupting antioxidant defenses, and lowering overall biomass.

2022 Agronomy 36 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
Review Tier 2

The Effects of Acid Mist Environment on Plant Growth: a Review

This review examines how acid deposition from industrial and vehicular emissions harms plant growth and agricultural yields, summarizing over 50 years of research demonstrating toxic effects on crop morphology and productivity, particularly in developing countries.

2023 Journal of Plant Development 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of Microplastics and Potentially Toxic Elements in Plant Leaves Along an Urbanization Gradient in Bangladesh

Researchers analyzed plant leaves along an urbanization gradient in Bangladesh and found that both microplastics and toxic metals like cadmium, lead, and zinc accumulated on leaf surfaces, with the highest levels near industrial areas. Only PET (polyethylene terephthalate) microplastics were detected, and their concentration correlated with industrial activity. The study shows that airborne microplastics and heavy metals co-accumulate on food-related vegetation, creating a potential pathway for human exposure through contaminated produce.

2024 Toxics 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity Mechanisms of Nanoplastics on Crop Growth, Interference of Phyllosphere Microbes, and Evidence for Foliar Penetration and Translocation

Researchers exposed tomato plants to nanoplastics with different surface charges and found that positively charged particles caused the most damage, including stunted growth, increased stress responses, and disruption of the leaf microbiome. The nanoplastics penetrated through leaves and traveled to the roots, demonstrating that atmospheric plastic pollution can contaminate crops from above. This is a concern for food safety, as nanoplastics accumulating in edible plants could be a route of human exposure.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 122 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of microplastic type, size, and composition in atmospheric and foliage samples in an urban scenario

Researchers compared microplastic contamination in outdoor air deposits and on plant leaf surfaces in an urban area and found that both sampling methods detected similar types and sizes of microplastic particles. Fibers were the most common shape found, and polyester and polyethylene were among the most frequently identified polymers. The study suggests that plant foliage could serve as a practical biomonitor for tracking airborne microplastic pollution in cities.

2024 Environmental Pollution 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyester microfibers delay growth of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) throughout the lifecycle

Researchers found that polyester microfibers delayed the growth of cherry tomatoes throughout their entire lifecycle when grown in peaty growing media, demonstrating that synthetic textile fiber contamination — a dominant contaminant in agricultural biosolids — negatively affects plant productivity.

2025 DRYAD
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic and copper applications on chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in kale and tomato

Researchers investigated the individual and combined effects of microplastics and copper on kale and tomato plants, measuring impacts on chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment content to assess how co-contamination of agricultural soils affects crop physiology.

2025 Journal of Agricultural Faculty of Gaziosmanpasa University
Article Tier 2

Can microplastics threaten plant productivity and fruit quality? Insights from Micro-Tom and Micro-PET/PVC

Researchers grew tomato plants in soil containing environmentally realistic levels of PET and PVC microplastics and found mixed effects on plant productivity and fruit quality. While some growth parameters were affected, the microplastics also altered the mineral content of the tomatoes. This study suggests that microplastics in agricultural soil could change the nutritional profile of the food we eat.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 58 citations