Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

[Effects of Microplastics on the Growth and Physiology Characteristics of Ceratophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata].

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (100 micrometer, 50 and 100 mg/L) on growth and physiological characteristics of two submerged aquatic plants, Ceratophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata, under single and mixed cultivation. The study found that microplastic exposure altered plant growth metrics and physiological parameters in a concentration- and polymer-type-dependent manner, informing understanding of microplastic ecological effects in aquatic vegetation.

2025 PubMed
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

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

Effects of different concentrations and particle sizes of microplastics on the full life history of freshwater Chlorella

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different concentrations and particle sizes affect the complete life cycle of freshwater Chlorella algae. The study found that microplastics can inhibit algal growth by up to 68%, while also altering chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, indicating that microplastic pollution may pose significant risks to the base of aquatic food webs.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
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

Concentration dependent toxicity of microplastics to marine microalgae

Researchers exposed the marine microalga Chlorella sp. to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/L, finding that even low concentrations inhibited growth and disrupted photosynthesis, while higher concentrations caused more pronounced oxidative stress.

2025 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics exposure on the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae

Researchers investigated how polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae and found that both types reduced chlorophyll content and impaired photosynthetic efficiency. The damage was concentration-dependent and worsened over the growth period. The study highlights that microplastic pollution in freshwater can harm algae, which form the base of aquatic food chains.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 416 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

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

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

The effect of microplastics pollution in microalgal biomass production: A biochemical study

Scientists exposed the marine microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum to polystyrene microplastics and found that both short- and long-term exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations disrupted biochemical composition including proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

2020 Water Research 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing phytotoxicity of microplastics on aquatic plants using fluorescent microplastics

Researchers tested the effects of tiny fluorescent microplastics on three types of aquatic plants and found that two species showed significantly reduced biomass after three weeks of exposure. They confirmed through laser fluorescence detection that the plants took up the microplastic particles. The study provides early evidence that microplastics can be directly harmful to aquatic plant growth, an area that has received limited research attention.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20 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

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

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 impacts of polystyrene microplastics on development, energy transfer and nutrient cycling of biofilms: A comprehensive chronic toxicity study

A chronic toxicity study found that polystyrene microplastics inhibited freshwater biofilm development, reducing biomass, photosynthetic activity, and nutrient cycling rates, with effects increasing with MP concentration over the 60-day exposure period.

2025 Water Cycle
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 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

Phytoplankton response to polystyrene microplastics: Perspective from an entire growth period

Researchers tracked the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa across its entire growth cycle and found dose-dependent harm during early growth phases. The microplastics reduced photosynthetic activity and inhibited growth by up to 38%, though the algae showed some ability to recover in later growth stages. The study suggests that microplastics can meaningfully disrupt the growth of freshwater phytoplankton, which form the foundation of aquatic food webs.

2018 Chemosphere 669 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

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

Impact of microplastics on the foraging, photosynthesis and digestive systems of submerged carnivorous macrophytes under low and high nutrient concentrations

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect the carnivorous aquatic plant Utricularia vulgaris, finding that high concentrations reduced growth, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll content while increasing oxidative stress. The study also revealed that microplastics accumulated in the plant's traps and altered the associated microbial community, though higher nutrient levels helped compensate for some of the negative growth effects.

2021 Environmental Pollution 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics on aquatic flora: Recent status, mechanisms of their toxicity and bioremediation strategies

This review examines how microplastics affect aquatic plants, from microscopic algae to larger vegetation, by physically blocking sunlight and pores and disrupting photosynthesis, reproduction, and nutrient uptake. Prolonged exposure triggers excessive production of harmful reactive oxygen species in plant cells, which can lead to cell death. The authors also highlight bioremediation approaches, including certain plants and microorganisms that can adsorb or break down microplastics by 25 to 80 percent in laboratory settings.

2024 Chemosphere 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in market bivalves from South Korea

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia magna, a key species in aquatic food webs. They found that microplastic exposure impaired reproduction, reduced growth, and caused oxidative stress even at relatively low concentrations. The study highlights that these tiny plastic particles can harm small freshwater organisms that play a critical role in maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.

2018 Environmental Pollution 475 citations