Assessing the impact of micro and nanoplastics on the productivity of vegetable crops in terrestrial horticulture: a comprehensive review

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 197; no. 4; p. 404
• Main Authors: Galahitigama, Harshana, Sandamali, Poorni, Jayapra, Thilini, Abesinghe, Nandula, Senavirathna, Mudalige Don Hiranya Jayasanka, Diola, Ma Brida Lea, Tanchuling, Maria Antonia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 17.03.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agriculture; Arable land; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; bibliometric analysis; Bibliometrics; Biological properties; cell structures; Cellular structure; Crops; Crops, Agricultural - drug effects; Crops, Agricultural - growth & development; Cultivars; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; ecosystems; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; growth and development; Horticulture; human health; Human influences; humans; Microplastics - analysis; Microplastics - toxicity; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; nanoplastics; phytotoxicity; Plastics; Plastics - toxicity; Pollution; Review; Rhizosphere; soil; Soil chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Vegetables; Vegetables - drug effects; Vegetables - growth & development; Vegetable plants; Plant toxicity; Remediation strategies; Micro and nano plastics; Soil properties
• ISSN: 1573-2959; 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-025-13820-1

Micro and nano plastics (MNPs) pollution has emerged as a significant environmental issue in recent years. Plastic contamination in the environment poses risks to both human health and other organisms within the ecosystem. This review discusses the overall impact of MNPs on the performance of vegetable crops, including a global perspective on the topic. Bibliometric analysis reveals that most research on this subject has been concentrated in a few countries, although the number of studies has notably increased in recent years. MNPs accumulate in arable lands due to human activities, often altering the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties in the rhizosphere. Vegetable crops absorb these MNPs mainly through their roots, leading to accumulation in the edible parts of the plants. Consequently, this results in phytotoxic symptoms and poor growth and development. The phytotoxic effects of MNPs are attributed to genetic and metabolic changes within the plant's cellular structure. Current research on MNPs has been limited to a few vegetable cultivars. Future studies should encompass a broader range of vegetable crops under both laboratory and field conditions to advance this burgeoning field of research. Additionally, examining various types of plastics is essential to comprehensively understanding their impact. Graphical Abstract