Microplastics and nanoplastics can affect the vegetables we grow and eat

Plastics are everywhere in our daily lives, and unfortunately, they are now everywhere in our environment too — including our food. This review looks into tiny plastic particles called microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) and how they affect the vegetables we grow and eat. These particles come from things like plastic mulch, compost, and polluted water used in farming. Once in the soil, MNPs can be absorbed by vegetables through their roots, eventually reaching the parts we eat. The study found that MNPs can harm plant growth, damage roots and leaves, disrupt nutrient uptake, and even carry other pollutants like heavy metals or pesticides. This research is important because vegetables are a big part of a healthy diet, and if they’re contaminated, our health may be at risk. The article also highlights the need for more studies and solutions to reduce plastic contamination in farms. By understanding how MNPs affect crops and taking action, we can better protect our food, our health, and the environment.

This review article provides a critical synthesis of emerging research on how microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) affect vegetable crop development. The significance of this work lies in its comprehensive coverage of the ways MNPs enter terrestrial agroecosystems, particularly through plastic mulch, compost, irrigation systems, and atmospheric deposition. By combining bibliometric analysis with scientific evidence from multiple studies, the review identifies gaps in current research, such as the limited number of vegetable crop types studied, and calls for broader investigations under both laboratory and field conditions. It also outlines how MNPs influence soil physicochemical properties, interfere with root and shoot functions, disrupt nutrient cycles, and trigger oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction in crops.

Crucially, this review highlights the broader implications of MNP accumulation for food security, environmental sustainability, and human health. With vegetables being a dietary cornerstone worldwide, the presence of MNPs in edible plant tissues introduces direct health risks via bioaccumulation. The review underscores the urgency of exploring remediation strategies and refining agricultural practices to mitigate plastic contamination. As one of the few studies focusing explicitly on the intersection of plastic pollution and vegetable crop productivity, this article significantly contributes to advancing sustainable agriculture and aligns with global efforts toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Authors: Harshana Galahitigama (Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University), Poorni Sandamali (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka), Thilini Jayapra (Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo), Nandula Abesinghe (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka), Mudalige Don Hiranya Jayasanka Senavirathna (Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University), Ma Brida Lea Diola (Institute of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman), and Maria Antonia Tanchuling (Institute of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-025-13820-1