AbstractMicroplastics (MPs) are small plastic fragments that have spread globally, but the interaction between MPs and heavy metal soil contamination on plant growth has received little attention. In this study, the impact of polystyrene (PS) on maize growth in cadmium (Cd) polluted soil was examined through a randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment. The results revealed that increasing PS levels in soil led to an increase in Cd concentration in maize shoots and roots compared to the control. Furthermore, the growth inhibiting impact of PS was enhanced by the presence of Cd. PS reduced the dry weights of the shoots and roots, resulting in lower overall dry weights. This study also demonstrated a distinct alteration in the soil pH following the addition of PS, with pH values increasing. PS enhanced the disruption of Cd and decreased the chlorophyll index, plant height, and leaf area by increasing the Cd concentration in the maize plant. These findings highlight the negative impact of PS on plant growth and the exacerbation of Cd contamination in soil. Proper disposal of plastic waste is crucial to mitigate its detrimental effects on the environment. Further research is needed to examine the impact of MPs on soil contamination and their interactions with plants. Understanding the mechanisms of the interactions between MPs and heavy metals will aid in developing strategies to reduce the risks associated with plastic waste and soil contamination. These findings underscore the need for effective waste management practices to prevent further contamination of the environment.

More from our Archive

• DOI: 10.3390/catal13071147 2023

  Photothermal-Assisted Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline in Seawater Based on the Black g-C3N4 Nanosheets with Cyano Group Defects

  Loic Jiresse Nguetsa Kuate, Zhouze Chen, Jialin Lu, Huabing Wen, Feng Guo, Weilong Shi

• DOI: 10.1002/sstr.202300168 2023

  Recent Advance in Heterogenous Electrocatalysts for Highly Selective Nitrite Reduction to Ammonia Under Ambient Condition

  Luchao Yue, Wei Song, Lixin Zhang, Yonglan Luo, Yan Wang, Tingshuai Li, Binwu Ying, Shengjun Sun, Dongdong Zheng, Qian Liu, Asmaa Farouk, Mohamed S. Hamdy, Sulaiman Alfaifi, Xuping Sun

• DOI: 10.3390/catal13071138 2023

  Utilization of Loaded Cobalt onto MCM-48 Mesoporous Catalyst as a Heterogeneous Reaction in a Fixed Bed Membrane Reactor to Produce Isomerization Product from n-Heptane

  Nisreen S. Ali, Issam K. Salih, Hamed N. Harharah, Hasan Sh. Majdi, Hussein G. Salih, Khairi R. Kalash, Ali Al-Shathr, Farah T. Al-Sudani, Mahir A. Abdulrahman, Jamal M. Alrubaye, Talib M. Albayati, Noori M. Saady, Sohrab Zendehboudi

• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1021 2023

  High physiological function for corals with thermally tolerant, host-adapted symbionts

  Kira E. Turnham, Matthew D. Aschaffenburg, D. Tye Pettay, David A. Paz-García, Héctor Reyes-Bonilla, Jorge Pinzón, Ellie Timmins, Robin T. Smith, Michael P. McGinley, Mark E. Warner, Todd C. LaJeunesse

• DOI: 10.3390/catal13071120 2023

  Structurally Rigid (8-(Arylimino)-5,6,7-trihydroquinolin-2-yl)-methyl Acetate Cobalt Complex Catalysts for Isoprene Polymerization with High Activity and cis-1,4 Selectivity

  Nighat Yousuf, Yanping Ma, Qaiser Mahmood, Wenjuan Zhang, Ming Liu, Rongyan Yuan, Wen-Hua Sun

• DOI: 10.3390/pollutants3030025 2023

  Nano-Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals from Soil: A Critical Review

  Priyanka Prakash, Smitha Chandran S

• DOI: 10.3390/catal13081167 2023

  The Catalyst of Ruthenium Nanoparticles Decorated Silicalite-1 Zeolite for Boosting Catalytic Soot Oxidation

  Yuanfeng Li, Hao Guo, Jing Xiong, Yaxiao Ma, Xuanzhen Li, Peng Zhang, Sicheng Zhang, Yuechang Wei

• DOI: 10.3390/catal13071140 2023

  Highly Stable Photocatalytic Dry and Bi-Reforming of Methane with the Role of a Hole Scavenger for Syngas Production over a Defective Co-Doped g-C3N4 Nanotexture

  Muhammad Tahir, Azmat Ali Khan, Abdullah Bafaqeer, Naveen Kumar, Mohammad Siraj, Amanullah Fatehmulla

• DOI: 10.3390/catal13071135 2023

  The Impact of Different Green Synthetic Routes on the Photocatalytic Potential of FeSnO2 for the Removal of Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet Dyes under Natural Sunlight Exposure

  Arifa Shaukat, Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, Kok-Keong Chong, Rabia Nawaz, Muhammad Tariq Qamar, Shahid Iqbal, Nasser S. Awwad, Hala A. Ibrahium

• DOI: 10.3390/environments10070127 2023

  Machine Learning Implementation in Membrane Bioreactor Systems: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives: A Review

  Zacharias Frontistis, Grigoris Lykogiannis, Anastasios Sarmpanis