Papers

61,005 results
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Systematic Review Tier 1

Nano- and microplastics commonly cause adverse impacts on plants at environmentally relevant levels: A systematic review

Systematic review of 78 studies found that nano- and microplastics commonly cause adverse effects on plants even at environmentally relevant concentrations, with germination and root growth more strongly affected than shoot growth during early development. Chlorophyll levels were consistently reduced while stress indicators (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes were consistently upregulated across species.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitigation of microplastic-induced phytotoxicity in poplar micropropagation by multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Researchers exposed in vitro hybrid poplar (Populus alba × P. glandulosa) to polystyrene microplastics and found significant concentration-dependent inhibition of rooting, shoot regeneration, and photosynthesis. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes co-applied with microplastics mitigated toxicity by scavenging reactive oxygen species and supporting cell wall regeneration.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Unlocking the Potential of Carbon Quantum Dots for Cell Imaging, Intracellular Localization, and Gene Expression Control in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it investigates how carbon quantum dots are transported and affect gene expression in Arabidopsis plants, with no connection to microplastic contamination.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 12 citations
Article Tier 2

A Plant Bioreactor for the Synthesis of Carbon Nanotube Bionic Nanocomposites

Researchers grew carboxylated carbon nanotubes inside living plant roots to create a bionic composite material by exploiting natural plant transport processes. This is a nanotechnology and materials science paper not related to environmental microplastics.

2020 Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Unraveling the adverse Impacts of Nano-scale Carbon Exposure on Nitrogen Metabolism during Early Seedling Establishment in Zea mays L. Roots

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it examines how nano-scale carbon materials affect nitrogen metabolism and root development in early maize seedlings.

2023
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the seed germination of herbaceous ornamental plants

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect seed germination of three ornamental plant species, finding that nanoscale particles at high concentrations significantly inhibited germination and early growth.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 150 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoparticles as catalysts of agricultural revolution: enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress: a review

This review looks at how nanoparticles can help crops withstand environmental stresses like drought, salt, and heavy metal contamination. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because nanoparticles and microplastics share similar size ranges and behaviors in soil, and understanding how tiny particles interact with plants helps scientists assess both the risks and potential benefits of nanoscale materials in agriculture.

2025 Frontiers in Plant Science 34 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Effects of nano- & microplastics on terrestrial plants are ubiquitous and widespread: a systematic review

This systematic review finds that nano- and microplastics have widespread negative effects on plants, including reduced germination, stunted growth, and biochemical stress responses. Since plants form the base of our food supply, these findings suggest that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils could affect crop health and potentially the quality of food we eat.

2023 CNR ExploRA
Article Tier 2

Impact of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Agricultural Crops Performance: A Review of Efficacy and Mechanisms

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research; it reviews the effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on agricultural crop performance, focusing on photosynthesis enhancement and antimicrobial protection rather than plastic pollution.

2024 Futuristic Biotechnology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent advances on microplastics/nanoplastics interaction with plant species: A concise review

This review synthesizes research on how microplastics and nanoplastics interact with plants, finding that plastic particles in soil can interfere with root uptake, germination, and crop yields depending on the type and concentration of plastic present. The findings are particularly relevant to human health because food crops grown in microplastic-contaminated agricultural soils may absorb or accumulate plastic particles, creating a direct dietary exposure route.

2023 Malaysian Journal of Chemical Engineering and Technology
Article Tier 2

Micro (nano) plastic pollution: The ecological influence on soil-plant system and human health.

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics affect soil health, plant growth, and food quality, finding that these particles accumulate in plant root systems and can reduce crop yields and alter nutritional content. Since contaminated soil and water are increasingly delivering microplastics to food crops, these findings are directly relevant to agricultural food safety.

2021 The Science of the total environment
Meta Analysis Tier 1

How to improve crop photosynthesis more efficiently using nanomaterials: Lessons from a meta-analysis

Researchers analyzed dozens of studies and found that applying nanomaterials to crops can boost photosynthesis — the process plants use to grow — especially under drought and salt stress conditions, though they caution that lab results may not always translate to real farm fields and that nanoplastics in the soil can reduce these benefits.

2026 Industrial Crops and Products
Review Tier 2

Unveiling the mechanism of micro-and-nano plastic phytotoxicity on terrestrial plants: A comprehensive review of omics approaches.

This comprehensive review examined how micro-and-nano plastics (MNPs) in terrestrial soils damage plant health by inhibiting water and nutrient uptake, reducing seed germination, impairing photosynthesis, and inducing oxidative stress. The review identified key knowledge gaps in understanding MNP phytotoxicity mechanisms and their implications for food security.

2025 Environment international
Article Tier 2

Effect of Innovative Bio-Based Plastics on Early Growth of Higher Plants

Researchers tested five bio-based plastics on early plant growth and found that monocotyledonous plants were largely unaffected, while PLA-based plastics inhibited root growth in dicotyledonous plants by up to 22% and PBS-based plastic stimulated shoot growth, suggesting bio-based plastic particles are not entirely benign in soil environments.

2023 Polymers 13 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review on Crop Responses to Nanofertilizers for Mitigation of Multiple Environmental Stresses

This review examines how nanoscale fertilizers can help crops survive environmental stresses like drought, salt, and pollution by improving nutrient delivery at the cellular level. While focused on agricultural benefits, the research is relevant to microplastics because nanofertilizers may help plants cope with microplastic-contaminated soil. However, the authors caution that widespread use of nanoparticles in farming raises its own questions about potential effects on the environment and human health.

2023 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Can microplastics mediate soil properties, plant growth and carbon/nitrogen turnover in the terrestrial ecosystem?

This review assessed evidence for microplastic effects on soil properties, plant growth, and carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics were found to alter soil structure, water retention, microbial activity, and nutrient cycling, with cascading effects on plant growth and soil organic matter turnover.

2022 Ecosystem Health and Sustainability 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic/nanoplastic toxicity in plants: an imminent concern

This review examines the growing body of research on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect terrestrial plants, from root uptake to changes in growth and gene expression. Researchers found that these particles can alter plant physiology and biochemistry at varying degrees depending on particle size and concentration. The study calls for more research on how plastic contamination in soil may ultimately affect food crop quality and human health through the food chain.

2022 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 182 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Micro(nano)plastics on Terrestrial Plants: Germination, Growth, and Litter

This review examines how micro and nanoplastics affect every stage of a plant's life cycle, from seed germination to growth to decomposition of dead plant material. The tiny plastic particles can physically block nutrient and water channels in plants, disrupt photosynthesis, and alter gene expression, with smaller nanoplastics generally causing more harm. These effects on plants are relevant to human health because they could reduce crop yields and allow microplastics to enter the food supply through contaminated produce.

2023 Plants 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental applications of carbon dots: Addressing microplastics, air and water pollution

This review examined how carbon dots, a class of nanomaterials, can be applied to environmental challenges including microplastic detection, air quality monitoring, and water purification. Researchers found that the unique optical and chemical properties of carbon dots make them particularly promising for sensing and removing pollutants. The study highlights the versatility of these materials as tools for addressing multiple forms of environmental contamination.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic understanding on the uptake of micro-nano plastics by plants and its phytoremediation.

This review summarized the mechanisms by which micro-nano plastics are taken up by plants through roots and leaves, and evaluated the potential for phytoremediation as a strategy to reduce plastic contamination in soil, identifying key plant species and genetic factors that influence uptake.

2024 Environmental science and pollution research international
Article Tier 2

Micro and nanoplastics pollution: Sources, distribution, uptake in plants, toxicological effects, and innovative remediation strategies for environmental sustainability

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics enter plants through roots, disrupt growth and photosynthesis, and cause oxidative stress that reduces crop yields. Because these plastic particles can move through plant tissues and into edible parts, they represent a potential pathway for microplastics to enter the human food supply.

2024 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polyamide Microplastics with Different Concentrations on Cotton Seed Germination and Seedling Growth

Researchers exposed cotton seedlings to polyamide microplastics at varying concentrations, finding dose-dependent inhibition of seed germination and seedling growth, adding cotton to the list of staple agricultural crops susceptible to microplastic phytotoxicity.

2025
Article Tier 2

Nanophytoremediation: advancing phytoremediation efficiency through nanotechnology integration

This review examines how combining nanotechnology with plants that naturally absorb pollutants (phytoremediation) could speed up environmental cleanup efforts. Nanoparticles can help plants take up contaminants more efficiently and survive in polluted conditions, offering a potential strategy for addressing soil and water contamination from various pollutants including plastics.

2025 Discover Plants. 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics of different shapes increase seed germination synchrony while only films and fibers affect seed germination velocity

Researchers found that microplastics of various shapes — fibers, films, foams, and fragments — increased seed germination synchrony in carrot seeds, while only films and fibers specifically reduced germination speed, suggesting shape-dependent effects on plant establishment.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Science 32 citations