Story perspectives

Microplastics Harm Crops, Threatening Nutrition and Health

9/22/2025

26 4

Summary

Story summary

PhD candidate Laura Julia Zantis examined how micro- and nanoplastics affect crops, revealing stress, reduced growth, and lower nutritional value in plants like lettuce and carrots.
Biodegradable plastics also harm plants due to harmful chemicals released during degradation.
All tested crops, including barley and wheat, exhibited stress, especially leafy varieties.
Soil complexity poses challenges for plastic research, which often emphasizes water bodies.
Stressed plants may produce lower quality fruit, impacting human health.

1 of 1

Story summary

PhD candidate Laura Julia Zantis examined how micro- and nanoplastics affect crops, revealing stress, reduced growth, and lower nutritional value in plants like lettuce and carrots.
Biodegradable plastics also harm plants due to harmful chemicals released during degradation.
All tested crops, including barley and wheat, exhibited stress, especially leafy varieties.
Soil complexity poses challenges for plastic research, which often emphasizes water bodies.
Stressed plants may produce lower quality fruit, impacting human health.