microplastics

microplastics mps

toxic effects

agricultural soils

effects microplastics

micro nanoplastics

Environmental Pollution

Nano- and microplastics have been widely spread in environmental matrices, especially in marine and terrestrial systems. In this study, higher plant Vicia faba root tips were exposed to 5 μm and 100 nm with 10, 50 and 100 mg/L polystyrene fluorescent microplastics (PS-MPs) for 48 h. Root length, weight, oxidative stress and genotoxicity of V. faba were assessed to investigate toxic effects of PS-MPs. The results showed that the biomass and catalase (CAT) enzymes activity of V. faba roots decreased under 5 μm PS-MPs whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes activity significantly increased. Under the 100 nm PS-MPs exposure a significant decrease of growth was observed only at the highest concentration (100 mg/L). However, micronucleus (MN) test and antioxidative enzymes activities showed that 100 nm PS-MPs induce higher genotoxic and oxidative damage to V. faba than 5 μm PS-MPs. Furthermore, the laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM) demonstrated that 100 nm PS-MPs can accumulate in V. faba root and most probably block cell connections or cell wall pores for transport of nutrients. These findings provide a new insight into the toxic effects of microplastics on V. faba , and further apply to the ecological risk assessment of microplastics on higher plants. • Ecotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on plant Vicia faba has been investigated for the first time. • 100 nm PS-MPs showed more toxic to V. faba than 5 μm PS-MPs. • According to the laser confocal scanning microscopy images, 100 nm PS-MPs entered the root tissue of V. faba. Ecotoxicity of PS-MPs on higher plant V. faba has been investigated for the first time and 100 nm PS-MPs showed greater toxicity than 5 μm PS-MPs.

Ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on higher plant Vicia faba