eFinder

eFinder

Home › Article

Plastics found in tomato and wheat crops stunt growth, study finds

Phys · · 420 words · By Griffith University

A study from Griffith University published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research indicates that micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soil can stunt the growth of wheat and tomato plants. The research found that nanoplastics can enter plant tissues and be transported to leaves, suggesting potential risks to food safety.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-04-plastics-tomato-wheat-crops-stunt.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

12 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 6
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
info Single Source 1
check_circle
“A study investigating microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in agricultural settings has found they reduced plant growth and entered plant tissues through the soil”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that a study found microplastics and nanoplastics in agricultural settings reduced plant growth and entered plant tissues through the soil.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A study investigating microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in agricultural settings has found they reduced plant growth and entered plant tissues through the soil, raising new concerns about foo…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-plastics-tomato-wheat-crops-st…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The results confirmed that plants are not a barrier to plastic pollution. Nanoplastic transport: Tiny nanoplastics were taken up by both wheat and tomato plants, moving into the roots and stems. In to…
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/nanoplastics-in-our-foo…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment is an undeniable and serious concern due to their higher persistence and extensive use in agricultural producti…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8618759/
check_circle
“The study, led by Griffith University, tested how micro- and nanoplastics behaved in soil using realistic conditions using particle types, surface properties, sizes and concentrations representative of those found in agricultural systems.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results explicitly state the study was led by Griffith University and used realistic conditions representative of agricultural systems.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (formerly the Queensland Conservatorium of Music) is a selective, audition based music school located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and is part of G…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Conservatorium_Grif…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — G:link (also known as the Gold Coast Light Rail or the Gold Coast tram) is a light rail system serving the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. The system forms part of Translink's South East Queensla…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G:link
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Griffith University is a public research university in South East Queensland on the east coast of Australia. The university was founded in 1971, but was not officially opened until 1975. The universit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffith_University
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“The research is published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of generic definitions of 'study', 'environmental science', and 'pollution' from Wikipedia and dictionaries, but no specific source confirms the publication of this study in 'Environmental Science and Pollution Research'.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Air pollution is the presence of substances in the air that are harmful to humans, other living beings or the environment. Pollutants can be gases, like ozone or nitrogen oxides, or small particles li…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Environmental science is an academic field that integrates the physical, biological, and mathematical sciences to study the environment and solve environmental problems. It uses an integrated, quantit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_science
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harm. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Using wheat and tomato plants, the team, led by Dr. Shima Ziajahromi from Griffith's Australian Rivers Institute, found MPs reduced plant growth and chlorophyll content”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general findings regarding wheat and tomato plants are mentioned in the web results, the specific attribution to Dr. Shima Ziajahromi and the specific mention of 'chlorophyll content' in the context of this specific team is not corroborated by a second independent source in the provided evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The term microplastics is used to differentiate them from larger, non-microscopic plastic waste. Two classifications of microplastics are currently recognized. Primary microplastics include any plasti…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microplastics
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 29, 2025 · Scientists have estimated that adults ingest the equivalent of one credit card per week in microplastics. Studies in animals and human cells suggest microplastics exposure could be link…
https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/01/microplastics…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mar 19, 2026 · EPA researchers define microplastics, or MPs, as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters (mm), which is about the size of a pencil eraser, to 1 nanometer (nm). For comparis…
https://www.epa.gov/water-research/microplastics-research
check_circle
“fiber-shaped plastics (originating from synthetic textile) having the most effects”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that plastic exposure led to reduced plant size and that 'fibre' damage or fibrous microplastics caused the most pronounced effects.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Stunted growth and “fibre” damage. The study found that plastic exposure led to a visible reduction in plant size and a decrease in chlorophyll content, which is essential for photosynthesis and overa…
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/nanoplastics-in-our-foo…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The process of making plastic fibers into textiles is an energy-intensive process that requires large amounts of petroleum and releases volatile particulate matter and acids like hydrogen chloride. Ad…
https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-en…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Synthetic fibers or synthetic fibres are fibers made by humans through chemical synthesis, as opposed to natural fibers that are directly derived from living organisms, such as plants like cotton or f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_fiber
check_circle
“plants can trap MPs in the soil, reducing their movement in the environment”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources state that plants trap larger microplastics in their roots, thereby reducing their movement/mobility in the environment.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Microplastics and nanoplastics in agricultural soils reduce wheat and tomato growth, with fibrous microplastics causing the most pronounced effects. Plants trap larger microplastics in their roots, wh…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-plastics-tomato-wheat-crops-st…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Once in the environment, microplastics can accumulate in animals, including fish and shellfish, and are consequently also consumed as food by humans. And it's not just seafood. Our wastewater also con…
https://p.dw.com/en/microplastics-in-our-environment-the-ris…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Studying and analyzing these smallest of plastics in the environment and in our bodies is extremely challenging. “The analytical tools and techniques required for this are still being developed,” Veth…
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/microplastics-human-bodi…
check_circle
“NPs were taken up into plant tissues and transported within the plant, including its leaves.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that nanoplastics were taken up by wheat and tomato plants and transported into roots, stems, and leaves.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 25, 2025 · wahai warga /kcan recommend me a simple 4g phone purely for whatsapp?rugged if possible. frequent drop is expected.long battery lifeother spec not important.Short listOppo a3x got drop …
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5524600/all
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Nov 12, 2025 · Lowyat.NET -> Kopitiam Bump Topic Add Reply RSS Feed Bottom Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ WhatsApp Business, Meta Business Standard 392.6k views
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5545995/all
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Lowyat.NET -> Kopitiam -> Serious Kopitiam Bump Topic Add Reply RSS Feed Bottom Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ [found sos] cant login whatsapp browser, from iphone 70.2k views
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5556445/all
check_circle
“Plants reduced the mobility of microplastics in soil by trapping larger particles in their root systems”
CORROBORATED
Sources explicitly state that plants reduce the mobility of microplastics by trapping larger particles in their root systems.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Microplastics are "synthetic solid particles or polymeric matrices, with regular or irregular shape and with size ranging from 1 μm to 5 mm, of either primary or secondary manufacturing origin, which …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microplastics
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — • Microplastic mobility in soils is affected by multiple, often coupled, factors. • Including microplastic & soil properties, hydrological conditions, and living organisms. • Multiplicity of control p…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379171294_Microplas…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Indirect Mechanisms. Indirectly, microplastics affect higher plants by modifying soil properties. Their accumulation in the soil can lead to changes in soil texture, reducing porosity and water infilt…
https://ithy.com/article/microplastic-toxicity-review-fzj417…
help
“Fibrous microplastics (PET fibers) caused the most harmful effects, especially in tomato plants”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this specific claim regarding PET fibers and tomato plants.
help
“Mixtures of micro- and nanoplastics were more toxic than single particles”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this specific claim regarding the toxicity of mixtures versus single particles.
schedule
“Aged nanoplastics could be taken up by both wheat and tomato, moving into the root and stem tissue—and even the leaf tissue in tomatoes.”
PENDING
schedule
“Shima Ziajahromi et al, Microplastic uptake and impacts on crops under realistic exposure: implications for soil–plant systems, Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s11356-026-37686-z”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.