Plastic in the Environment: A Modern Type of Abiotic Stress for Plant Physiology
In recent years, plastic pollution has become a growing environmental concern: more than 350 million tons of plastic material are produced annually. Although many efforts have been made to recycle waste, a significant proportion of these plastics contaminate and accumulate in the environment. A cent...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/21/3717 |
| _version_ | 1797631434382376960 |
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| author | Giorgia Santini Daniela Castiglia Maryanna Martina Perrotta Simone Landi Giulia Maisto Sergio Esposito |
| author_facet | Giorgia Santini Daniela Castiglia Maryanna Martina Perrotta Simone Landi Giulia Maisto Sergio Esposito |
| author_sort | Giorgia Santini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, plastic pollution has become a growing environmental concern: more than 350 million tons of plastic material are produced annually. Although many efforts have been made to recycle waste, a significant proportion of these plastics contaminate and accumulate in the environment. A central point in plastic pollution is demonstrated by the evidence that plastic objects gradually and continuously split up into smaller pieces, thus producing subtle and invisible pollution caused by microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP). The small dimensions of these particles allow for the diffusion of these contaminants in farmlands, forest, freshwater, and oceans worldwide, posing serious menaces to human, animal, and plant health. The uptake of MPs and NPs into plant cells seriously affects plant growth, development, and photosynthesis, finally limiting crop yields and endangering natural environmental biodiversity. Furthermore, nano- and microplastics—once adsorbed by plants—can easily enter the food chain, being highly toxic to animals and humans. This review addresses the impacts of MP and NP particles on plants in the terrestrial environment. In particular, we provide an overview here of the detrimental effects of photosynthetic injuries, oxidative stress, ROS production, and protein damage triggered by MN and NP in higher plants and, more specifically, in crops. The possible damage at the physiological and environmental levels is discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:23:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a388b802abb64173bcf6a2518a31f4fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:23:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-a388b802abb64173bcf6a2518a31f4fa2023-11-10T15:10:17ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-10-011221371710.3390/plants12213717Plastic in the Environment: A Modern Type of Abiotic Stress for Plant PhysiologyGiorgia Santini0Daniela Castiglia1Maryanna Martina Perrotta2Simone Landi3Giulia Maisto4Sergio Esposito5Department of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Cinthia, I-80126 Napoli, ItalyBio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, 80078 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Cinthia, I-80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Cinthia, I-80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Cinthia, I-80126 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Cinthia, I-80126 Napoli, ItalyIn recent years, plastic pollution has become a growing environmental concern: more than 350 million tons of plastic material are produced annually. Although many efforts have been made to recycle waste, a significant proportion of these plastics contaminate and accumulate in the environment. A central point in plastic pollution is demonstrated by the evidence that plastic objects gradually and continuously split up into smaller pieces, thus producing subtle and invisible pollution caused by microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP). The small dimensions of these particles allow for the diffusion of these contaminants in farmlands, forest, freshwater, and oceans worldwide, posing serious menaces to human, animal, and plant health. The uptake of MPs and NPs into plant cells seriously affects plant growth, development, and photosynthesis, finally limiting crop yields and endangering natural environmental biodiversity. Furthermore, nano- and microplastics—once adsorbed by plants—can easily enter the food chain, being highly toxic to animals and humans. This review addresses the impacts of MP and NP particles on plants in the terrestrial environment. In particular, we provide an overview here of the detrimental effects of photosynthetic injuries, oxidative stress, ROS production, and protein damage triggered by MN and NP in higher plants and, more specifically, in crops. The possible damage at the physiological and environmental levels is discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/21/3717agriculturemicroplasticnanoplasticoxidativesoiltranscriptomic |
| spellingShingle | Giorgia Santini Daniela Castiglia Maryanna Martina Perrotta Simone Landi Giulia Maisto Sergio Esposito Plastic in the Environment: A Modern Type of Abiotic Stress for Plant Physiology Plants agriculture microplastic nanoplastic oxidative soil transcriptomic |
| title | Plastic in the Environment: A Modern Type of Abiotic Stress for Plant Physiology |
| title_full | Plastic in the Environment: A Modern Type of Abiotic Stress for Plant Physiology |
| title_fullStr | Plastic in the Environment: A Modern Type of Abiotic Stress for Plant Physiology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plastic in the Environment: A Modern Type of Abiotic Stress for Plant Physiology |
| title_short | Plastic in the Environment: A Modern Type of Abiotic Stress for Plant Physiology |
| title_sort | plastic in the environment a modern type of abiotic stress for plant physiology |
| topic | agriculture microplastic nanoplastic oxidative soil transcriptomic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/21/3717 |
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