Uptake, translocation, and biological impacts of micro(nano)plastics in terrestrial plants: Progress and prospects

Wenfeng Wang; Wenke Yuan; Elvis Genbo Xu; Lianzhen Li; Haibo Zhang; Yuyi Yang

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.111867

Uptake, translocation, and biological impacts of micro(nano)plastics in terrestrial plants: Progress and prospects

Environ Res. 2022 Jan:203:111867. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111867. Epub 2021 Aug 11.

Authors

Wenfeng Wang¹, Wenke Yuan², Elvis Genbo Xu³, Lianzhen Li⁴, Haibo Zhang⁵, Yuyi Yang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety/State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China.
² Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
³ Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, 5230, Denmark.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China.
⁵ Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation, School of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China. Electronic address: yangyy@wbgcas.cn.

PMID: 34389347
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111867

Abstract

Micro(nano)plastics are emerging environmental contaminants of concern. The prevalence of micro(nano)plastics in soils has aroused increasing interest regarding their potential effects on soil biota including terrestrial plants. With the rapid increase in published studies on plant uptake and impacts of micro(nano)plastics, a review summarizing the current research progress and highlighting future needs is warranted. A growing body of evidence indicates that many terrestrial plants can potentially take up micro(nano)plastics via roots and translocate them to aboveground portions via the vascular system, primarily driven by the transpiration stream. Exposure to micro(nano)plastics can cause a variety of effects on the biometrical, biochemical, and physiological parameters of terrestrial plants, but the specific effects vary considerably as a function of plastic properties, plant species, and experimental conditions. The presence of micro(nano)plastics can also affect the bioavailability of other associated toxicants to terrestrial plants. Based on analysis of the available literature, this review identifies current knowledge gaps and suggests prospective lines for further research.

Keywords: Associated toxicants; Biological effects; Micro(nano)plastics; Terrestrial plants; Uptake.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Plants*
Plastics*
Prospective Studies
Soil

Substances

Plastics
Soil