Plastics have become indispensable in modern society, with extensive applications in electronics, transportation, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, packaging, and food systems. However, their widespread use has led to the emergence of microplastics (plastic particles ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm), which represent a pervasive and largely invisible form of environmental pollution. Due to their small size, persistence, and resistance to degradation, microplastics can evade conventional filtration systems and disperse widely through air, water, and soil. They have been detected in remote environments such as deep-sea sediments, high-altitude mountain regions, and Antarctica, indicating their global distribution and environmental persistence. Microplastics are distributed across terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems and are transferred to higher trophic levels through food webs, resulting in reductions in soil microbiota, soil fertility, and ecosystem functioning. Rising evidence also associates microplastic exposure to adverse human health effects, including respiratory disorders, inflammation, oxidative stress, gastrointestinal disturbances, and potential carcinogenic risks. Recent advances in analytical techniques have improved the detection of microplastics in environmental and biological samples. Furthermore, emerging waste management strategies, microbial and biotechnological approaches, have promising potential for the degradation and remediation of microplastics. Overall, incorporating multidisciplinary strategies, including waste management, public awareness and scientific innovation, is essential to monitor, mitigate, and ultimately reduce microplastic pollution.
Bhairav Prasad, Harshvardhan Chaudhary, H. Panwar et al.· Discover Environment· 0 citations
The increased demand for sustainable agriculture production under conditions of climatic stress and soil quality deterioration accelerates the need for innovative input technologies. Nano-bio–stimulants are substances or microorganisms that enhance plant growth through physiological modulation, manage abiotic stress and are independent of direct nutrient uptake, and have emerged as promising tools. However, their practical application is often limited by rapid degradation, inadequate delivery, and poor solubility. Nanotechnology offers a transformative solution through the development of a nanocarrier-based delivery system that enhances the bioavailability, stability, and sustained release of bioactive compounds over an extended period. Importantly, this review distinguishes nanofertilizers, which are nutrient-providing systems, from bio-stimulants, which are physiological modulators and nano-carriers (delivery vehicles), which are often treated as interchangeable in previous literature. This review focuses on the design principles, fabrication strategies, and release mechanisms of smart nanocarriers for bio-stimulant delivery, while critically discussing their interactions with the plant-soil system, environmental implications, and commercialisation challenges. Establishing a clear conceptual framework enables a more mechanistic understanding of how nano-enabled systems influence plant responses and supports the development of efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable agricultural technologies by improving resource-use efficiency, reducing agrochemical loads, and enhancing resilience.
B. Prasad, R. Dubey, Pankaj Kumar· Bioscience Nanotechnology· 0 citations
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