New review uncovers how microplastics infiltrate plants, raising food security concerns

Microplastics are no longer just an ocean pollutant—they are increasingly found in agricultural soils and even inside plants, according to a new review published in New Contaminants. The study highlights how microplastics can enter crops, impact plant health, and ultimately raise risks for global food security and human exposure.

Researchers from Nankai University synthesized the latest findings on how microplastics migrate from the environment into terrestrial plants. They describe three distinct pathways through which roots can absorb micro- and nanoplastics—through cracks in root tissue, diffusion along cell walls, and active transport across cell membranes. Leaves can also take up microplastics deposited from the atmosphere, primarily through stomata or by penetrating the waxy cuticle.

“Plants are the foundation of our food chains. If microplastics can accumulate in crops, this means they may also enter the human diet,” said Professor Lei Wang, corresponding author of the review. “Our analysis shows that plant absorption of microplastics is more complex and widespread than previously thought, with far-reaching ecological implications.”

The review also summarizes how absorbed microplastics, along with plastic additives such as phthalates and UV stabilizers, can harm plants. These effects include oxidative stress, blocked nutrient uptake, and suppressed photosynthesis. Alarmingly, a meta-analysis cited in the study suggests that microplastic exposure could reduce global yields of staple crops such as rice, wheat, and maize by up to 360 million metric tons annually—losses on a scale comparable to climate change impacts.

In addition to direct plant toxicity, microplastics may alter soil microbial communities, weaken plant defenses, and transfer through food webs. Leaves exposed to atmospheric microplastics can accumulate polymers such as PET and polystyrene, which may then be consumed by herbivores, insects, and humans.

The authors emphasize that key questions remain, such as whether microplastics accumulate in edible tissues like seeds and fruits, and how plants might transform or eliminate them. They call for the development of advanced imaging and analytical tools to trace microplastic fate inside plant tissues.

“This is not only an environmental issue but also an urgent agricultural and public health challenge,” said Professor Wang. “Future research must focus on reducing plastic pollution and understanding its long-term impacts on food systems.”

Journal reference:
Du H, Peng C, Li Y, Shi X, Liu C, Liu W, Wang L. Absorption of microplastics by terrestrial plants and their ecological risk. New Contaminants (2025). https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/newcontam-0025-0006 

About the Journal:

New Contaminants is an open-access journal focusing on research related to emerging pollutants and their remediation.

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