Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene particles combined with di-butyl phthalate cause significant decrease in photosynthesis and red lettuce quality

Researchers grew red lettuce hydroponically with polystyrene microplastics and dibutyl phthalate, finding that microplastics reduced the bioavailability of the plasticizer while simultaneously decreasing photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll content.

2021 Environmental Pollution 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Different effects and mechanisms of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics on the uptake of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Researchers investigated how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affect the uptake of heavy metals by lettuce grown in contaminated soil. They found that nanoplastics increased the accumulation of copper and zinc in lettuce leaves, while microplastics had the opposite effect for some metals. The study reveals that plastic particle size plays a critical role in determining whether microplastics worsen or reduce heavy metal contamination in food crops.

2022 Environmental Pollution 95 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of polyethylene particles on dibutyl phthalate toxicity in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

Polyethylene microplastic fragments in soil reduced the uptake of the plasticizer chemical dibutyl phthalate (DBP) into lettuce roots but worsened its inhibitory effects on root growth. The complex interactions between microplastics and co-occurring chemical contaminants like phthalates can alter toxicity in unexpected ways, affecting both plant growth and the safety of food crops.

2021 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

Internalization, physiological responses and molecular mechanisms of lettuce to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes: Validation of simulated soilless culture

This study found that lettuce plants absorb polystyrene microplastics through their roots and transport them to their leaves, with smaller particles (100 nanometers) moving more easily than larger ones. Both sizes reduced plant growth by roughly 38-48% and triggered stress responses including changes in gene expression. These findings raise food safety concerns since microplastics in soil can accumulate in leafy vegetables that people eat.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Revealing the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of different particle size microplastics on diethyl phthalate (DEP) in rye (Secale cereale L.)

Researchers studied how microplastics of different sizes interact with a common plasticizer chemical (DEP) in rye plants. Smaller nanoplastics were able to enter and move through the plant, disrupting leaf cells, while the plasticizer chemical increased the plant's uptake of nanoplastics. This suggests that microplastics and the chemicals they carry can work together to contaminate food crops, with smaller particles posing the greatest risk.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake, Distribution, and Impact of Micro- and Nano-Plastics in Horticultural Systems Using Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a Model Crop

Researchers studied how micro- and nanoplastics are taken up and distributed in lettuce grown in horticultural systems, finding that nanopolystyrene exposures significantly inhibited leaf and root development in a concentration-dependent manner. They optimized extraction methods for quantifying microplastics in soil and developed a synthesis procedure for nanoplastic test particles. The study demonstrates that plastic fragments from horticultural materials can accumulate in soil and affect crop growth, raising concerns about food safety.

2026
Article Tier 2

The dosage- and size-dependent effects of micro- and nanoplastics in lettuce roots and leaves at the growth, photosynthetic, and metabolomics levels

Researchers studied the effects of polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics on lettuce plants, varying both particle size and concentration. They found that particle size played a pivotal role in influencing plant growth, photosynthetic activity, and metabolic processes, with nanoplastics generally causing more pronounced effects than larger microplastics. The study suggests that the smallest plastic particles pose the greatest risk to crop health by disrupting plant physiology at multiple levels.

2024 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polyethylene microplastic on the phytotoxicity of di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort)

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interact with the chemical pollutant di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce and found that microplastics altered the plant's response to the toxin. The combination reduced photosynthesis, lowered chlorophyll content, and disrupted the plant's antioxidant defenses. The study highlights that microplastics in soil can change how plants respond to other contaminants, potentially compounding environmental harm.

2019 Chemosphere 380 citations
Article Tier 2

Metabolic response of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics after foliar exposure

Researchers exposed lettuce plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics through their leaves and found that the particles altered the plant's metabolism differently depending on particle size. This foliar exposure pathway means that microplastics and nanoplastics settling on leafy vegetables from the air can change the plant's internal chemistry. Since lettuce is widely consumed raw, these metabolic changes raise questions about how microplastic-contaminated produce might affect nutritional quality and human health.

2024 Environmental Science Nano 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to microplastic pollution

PVC microplastics of two different size ranges had contrasting effects on lettuce roots, with smaller particles stimulating root growth and larger particles having no effect, and smaller particles also reduced photosynthetic efficiency at moderate concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic size is a key variable determining whether effects on crops are stimulatory or inhibitory.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 147 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on uptake and toxicity of phenanthrene in soybean

This study examined how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect soybean plants' uptake of the pollutant phenanthrene. Researchers found that microplastics reduced soybean roots' ability to absorb phenanthrene, but micron-sized particles caused more oxidative damage to roots than nano-sized ones, which paradoxically reduced pollutant uptake further. The study highlights that combined exposure to microplastics and organic pollutants can harm crop plants, with the specific effects depending on plastic particle size.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 145 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative uptake of nanoplastics with different physico-chemical properties in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and transfer to snails (Cantareus aspersus)

This study quantified the uptake of nanoplastics with different physico-chemical properties into lettuce plants grown in contaminated agricultural soil, using europium-doped polystyrene particles as tracers. Particle charge and surface chemistry significantly affected the extent of nanoplastic uptake into plant tissues, with positively charged particles showing greater accumulation.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) decreased the submicron plastic stress in soil–plant system

This study investigated how submicron plastic particles and the plasticizer DEHP interact in soil-lettuce systems, unexpectedly finding that DEHP reduced plastic uptake into lettuce roots and alleviated—rather than exacerbated—the phytotoxic effects of the plastics.

2025 Refubium (Universitätsbibliothek der Freien Universität Berlin)
Article Tier 2

Micro-nanoscale polystyrene co-exposure impacts the uptake and translocation of arsenic and boscalid by lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Researchers found that nanoscale polystyrene particles dramatically increase arsenic translocation from roots to edible shoots of lettuce — up to threefold — while also entering root cells and migrating to leaves, demonstrating that microplastic co-exposure can substantially amplify the accumulation of other environmental contaminants in food crops.

2025 NanoImpact 5 citations
Article Tier 2

The distribution and impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on cucumber plants

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics of four different sizes distribute within cucumber plants and affect root growth and fruit quality. They found that smaller particles accumulated more readily throughout the plant, moving from roots to leaves and fruit, and caused greater disruption to root physiology. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could affect both crop development and food quality.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 253 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics lag the leaching of phenanthrene in soil and reduce its bioavailability to wheat

Researchers found that polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC microplastics delayed the downward leaching of phenanthrene through soil by adsorbing the contaminant, reducing its bioavailability to wheat, with adsorption capacity following the order PS > PE > PVC.

2021 Environmental Pollution 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effect of polystyrene microplastics and dibutyl phthalate on the microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Researchers investigated the combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate on the microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa. They found that smaller microplastics were more toxic than larger ones, and the interaction between microplastics and the plasticizer ranged from additive to antagonistic depending on concentration. At higher microplastic levels, the particles actually reduced the bioavailability of the plasticizer, partially offsetting its toxic effects.

2019 Environmental Pollution 201 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics facilitate the chemical journey of phthalates through vegetable and aggravate phytotoxicity

This study showed that polystyrene microplastics in soil can absorb and carry phthalates (harmful chemicals used in plastics) into vegetable crops, increasing the amount of these toxic chemicals in the edible parts of the plants. The combination of microplastics and phthalates together was more damaging to plant health than either pollutant alone. This is concerning for human health because it means microplastics could be increasing our exposure to toxic chemicals through the vegetables we eat.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of charged polystyrene microplastics on the bioavailability of dufulin in tomato plant

Researchers studied how differently charged polystyrene microplastics affect the uptake of a pesticide called Dufulin in hydroponic tomato plants. They found that all types of microplastics reduced plant growth and decreased the amount of pesticide absorbed by the tomatoes, with negatively charged particles having the strongest effect. The study suggests that microplastics in agricultural systems may alter how pesticides accumulate in food crops.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro(nano)plastics mitigate DEHP phytotoxicity and enhance its phytoremediation by pak choi.

This study found that polystyrene micro(nano)plastics reduced the phytotoxicity of the plasticizer DEHP on pak choi while simultaneously enhancing plant uptake of DEHP, altering both soil enzyme activity and microbial communities. The results suggested that MNPs can modify the environmental fate and bioavailability of co-occurring organic pollutants.

2025 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

Regulation strategies of microplastics with different particle sizes on cadmium migration processes and toxicity in soil-pakchoi system

Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes (0.2, 2, and 20 micrometers) affect cadmium movement from soil into pakchoi, a leafy vegetable. Larger microplastics actually reduced cadmium uptake by the plant by up to 47%, while the smallest particles had no effect. This study shows that microplastic size matters for food safety, as different-sized particles can either increase or decrease how much toxic metal ends up in the crops we eat.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different particle size microplastics and di-n-butyl phthalate on photosynthesis and quality of spinach

Researchers investigated how microplastics of different sizes combined with the plasticizer di-n-butyl phthalate affect spinach growth and photosynthesis in hydroponic experiments. They found that the combined pollution significantly reduced key photosynthetic parameters, with effects varying by microplastic particle size and concentration. The study highlights the potential for microplastic-associated chemical contaminants to impair crop productivity in agricultural settings.

2024 Environmental Technology & Innovation 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves to polystyrene nanoplastics pollution

Researchers exposed cucumber plants to polystyrene nanoplastics of four different sizes and found significant effects on photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, and sugar metabolism in the leaves. Smaller particles tended to reduce chlorophyll and photosynthetic activity, while larger particles triggered stronger oxidative stress responses. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in farmland soils could impair crop growth through multiple biochemical pathways.

2020 Chemosphere 317 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential impact and mechanism of aged polyethylene microplastics on nitrogen assimilation of Lactuca sativa L.

Researchers investigated how aged polyethylene microplastics of different sizes affect nitrogen uptake and metabolism in romaine lettuce. They found that aged microplastics, especially smaller particles, accumulated in the plants and disrupted nitrogen assimilation processes. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may affect crop nutrition and quality by interfering with how plants absorb and process essential nutrients.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 5 citations