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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Effects of different sizes of polystyrene micro(nano)plastics on soil microbial communities.
ClearDivergent responses in microbial metabolic limitations and carbon use efficiency to variably sized polystyrene microplastics in soil
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics of all sizes disrupted soil microbe metabolism, but the smallest particles (nanoscale, 0.1 micrometers) caused the most stress. Smaller particles were more likely to enter microbial cells directly and reduce the efficiency with which soil microbes process carbon. This matters because soil microbes play a critical role in carbon cycling, and widespread microplastic contamination could affect how soil stores and releases carbon.
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduces bacterial and fungal biomass in microfabricated soil models
Researchers used micro-engineered soil models to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect soil bacteria and fungi. They found that nanoplastic exposure reduced both bacterial and fungal biomass, with bacteria showing a linear dose-dependent decline and fungi being affected even at the lowest concentrations. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in soil may suppress the microbial communities essential for healthy soil function.
Effects of nanopolystyrene addition on nitrogen fertilizer fate, gaseous loss of N from the soil, and soil microbial community composition
Researchers found that nanopolystyrene particles added to agricultural soil disrupted nitrogen cycling by altering microbial community composition and increasing gaseous nitrogen losses, potentially reducing fertilizer efficiency and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in agroecosystems.
Size-dependent effects of polystyrene plastic particles on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as related to soil physicochemical properties.
This study exposed the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to two sizes of polystyrene particles in both liquid and soil media and found that smaller particles were more toxic in liquid while larger particles caused greater harm in soil. The results show that the physical properties of the surrounding environment significantly influence how microplastics harm soil organisms.
The Effect of Applying Model Nanoplastic Particles to Soil on the Composition of Its Microbial Community
Researchers conducted a one-month laboratory incubation experiment applying 0.55 µm polystyrene latex nanoplastics to soil to investigate effects on microbial community composition, finding that nanoplastic contamination altered soil microorganism diversity and activity in ways dependent on soil physicochemical properties and nanoplastic concentration.
Key factors and mechanisms of microplastics’ effects on soil nitrogen transformation: A review
This review systematically analyzed how microplastics affect nitrogen transformation processes in soil. Researchers found that the size, shape, concentration, and polymer type of microplastics all influence soil nitrogen cycling through changes to microbial communities, soil structure, and enzyme activity. The study identifies key knowledge gaps and recommends standardized research approaches to better predict how microplastic pollution will alter soil nutrient dynamics.
Size dependent impacts of a model microplastic on nitrification induced by interaction with nitrifying bacteria
Researchers found that smaller 50 nm polystyrene particles had a greater inhibitory impact on nitrification than larger 500 nm particles, reducing nitrite utilization rates and disrupting nitrogen cycling more severely. The size-dependent effect suggests nanoplastics pose greater risks to aquatic nitrogen processing than microplastics.
Effects of micro(nano)plastics on soil nutrient cycling: State of the knowledge.
This review systematically examined how micro- and nano-plastics affect soil nutrient cycling for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, finding that physical interference with soil structure, alteration of microbial communities, and chemical toxicity collectively disrupt mineralization, nitrification, and phosphorus availability in contaminated soils.
Microplastic pollution on the soil and its consequences on the nitrogen cycle: a review
This review examines microplastic pollution impacts on soil nitrogen cycling, finding that microplastics alter soil structure, serve as novel microbial colonization surfaces, and affect the microbial communities responsible for nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.
Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the agronomic traits and rhizosphere soil microbial community of highland barley
Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect highland barley growth and the microbial communities in surrounding soil. They found that smaller particles reduced grain weight while larger particles decreased spike dimensions, and all microplastic treatments significantly lowered soil bacterial diversity. The study also showed that adding degrading bacteria helped restore microbial community structure closer to normal conditions.
Effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on the microbiota and functional diversity of enzymes in soil
Polystyrene nanoparticles applied to soil at environmentally relevant concentrations caused significant reductions in microbial biomass and disrupted the activity of enzymes critical for nutrient cycling within 28 days. The study provides the first experimental evidence that nanoplastics can act as antimicrobial agents in soil, with potential consequences for soil fertility and ecosystem function.
Microplastic-induced reductions in population abundance and body size of soil nematodes
Researchers exposed three species of soil nematodes to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and found significant reductions in both population numbers and body size after 45 days. The smallest particles (0.1 micrometers) caused the most severe effects, demonstrating that microplastic toxicity to soil organisms is size-dependent.
Species sensitivity distributions of micro- and nanoplastics in soil based on particle characteristics
Researchers analyzed data from 74 studies to assess which soil organisms are most sensitive to micro and nanoplastics, finding that smaller particles and polystyrene types pose the greatest ecological risk. The hazardous concentration threshold for soil organisms was estimated at about 88 mg per kilogram of soil. This is the first study to factor in microplastic physical properties when calculating species sensitivity, providing a foundation for soil pollution guidelines.
Impact of Polystyrene Microplastics on Soil Properties, Microbial Diversity and Solanum lycopersicum L. Growth in Meadow Soils
Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect tomato plant growth and soil microbes. Surprisingly, some microplastic treatments boosted plant growth and soil nutrients, while others reduced microbial diversity and disrupted soil community networks. The mixed results show that microplastic effects on agriculture are complex and depend on particle size and concentration, making it difficult to predict how contaminated soil will affect food crops.
Nanoplastics alter ecosystem multifunctionality and may increase global warming potential
Researchers evaluated how positively and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics affect soil ecosystem functions, including nitrogen removal, greenhouse gas emissions, and microbial communities, with and without earthworms. The study found that nanoplastics significantly altered soil microbial community structure and ecosystem multifunctionality, with positively charged particles having more pronounced effects, and evidence indicating that nanoplastics may increase global warming potential through altered greenhouse gas emissions.
Unraveling consequences of soil micro- and nano-plastic pollution on soil-plant system: Implications for nitrogen (N) cycling and soil microbial activity
This review examines how micro- and nano-plastics affect soil microbial activity and nitrogen cycling in agricultural ecosystems, finding mixed effects that depend on polymer type and size. The authors highlight concerns about biodegradable plastics posing greater risks to plant growth than conventional plastics, complicating the assumption that biodegradable options are always safer.
Illuminating the nexus between non-biodegradable microplastics and soil nitrogen dynamics: A modulation through plant-derived organic matter
This research examined how different vegetation types (shrub, grassland, and bare soil) influence the impact of polystyrene microplastics on nitrogen cycling in soil. Microplastics disrupted nitrogen processes across all vegetation types, but shrub soils showed greater resistance, while grassland soils were most vulnerable to disruption of nitrogen-fixing microbial communities. Since nitrogen cycling is fundamental to soil fertility and plant growth, this finding has implications for agricultural lands where microplastic contamination from plastic mulch films is increasingly common.
Effects of microsized and nanosized polystyrene on detrital processing and nutrient dynamics in streams
Researchers exposed a stream detrital food chain — leaf-decomposing microbes and a river snail — to nano- and microsized polystyrene particles and found that nanosized particles suppressed microbial growth while boosting certain enzymes, whereas microsized particles reduced leaf nitrogen content and snail feeding, indicating distinct ecological disruption pathways depending on particle size.
Global hierarchical meta-analysis of microplastic-induced changes in the soil nitrogen cycle
This global meta-analysis found that microplastics significantly disrupt soil nitrogen cycling, with high concentrations (>1%) and smaller particle sizes causing the most severe effects on nitrogen transformation processes. These disruptions to soil fertility and microbial communities could ultimately reduce crop productivity and threaten food security.
Microplastic-Induced Reductions in Population, Fecundity, and Body Size of Soil Nematodes
Three soil nematode species were exposed to polystyrene microplastics at 0.1, 0.5, and 1 µm sizes for 45 days, revealing size-dependent reductions in population abundance, fecundity, and body size, with smaller particles generally more harmful.