Interactions between microplastics/nanoplastics and vascular plants

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 290; p. 117999
• Main Authors: Yin, Lingshi, Wen, Xiaofeng, Huang, Danlian, Du, Chunyan, Deng, Rui, Zhou, Zhenyu, Tao, Jiaxi, Li, Ruijin, Zhou, Wei, Wang, Zeyu, Chen, Haojie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Fate; Microplastics; Nanoplastics; oxidative stress; photosynthesis; Phytotoxicity; pollution; Vascular plants; Microplastics; Phytotoxicity; Vascular plants; Fate; Nanoplastics
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117999

Microplastics and nanoplastics are distributed in the environments universally. The interrelationship between vascular plants and micro/nanoplastics began to attract attention in recent years. Based on the relevant literatures collected from various databases, this review focuses on two topics: 1) the effect of vascular plants on the fate of micro/nanoplastics; 2) the effects of micro/nanoplastics on vascular plants. The review of the available studies reveals that vascular plants can act as sinks for microplastics and nanoplastics as their surfaces can adsorb these plastics; moreover, nanoplastics can be internalized by plants. Plastics on the surfaces and in the interiors of vascular plants can cause various phytotoxicity effects, including impacts on growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the results and mechanisms of phytotoxicity effects caused by microplastics or nanoplastics can be very different. However, knowledge gaps still exist in the relationships between micro/nanoplastics and vascular plants based on the analysis of available studies; thus, potential subjects for future studies were proposed, including the fates, analysis methods, influencing factors, mechanisms of phytotoxicity, and further influences of microplastics and nanoplastics in the vascular plant ecosystems. This study presents a review of micro/nanoplastics–vascular plant research and reaches a basis for future research. [Display omitted] •Microplastics and nanoplastics can be adsorbed on the surface of vascular plants.•Nanoplastics can be internalized by vascular plants under certain conditions.•Both microplastics and nanoplastics can lead to phytotoxicity on vascular plants, though the mechanisms are different.•The mechanism of phytotoxicity caused by micro/nanoplastics remains to be studied. Microplastics and nanoplastics have significant interactions with vascular plants.