Table 1.
Information of the effect of specific polymers on the shoot and root of certain plant species. Data represents the plant species (+reference), the type of polymer (PA Polyamide, PEHD polyethylene high-density, PP Polypropylene, PS polystyrene, PET polyethylene terephthalate, PE Polyethylene, PU Polyurethane, PC polycarbonate), the concentration in plastic weight over soil weight, the polymer size (med. = median size of the fragments) and the effect on shoot and root development.
| Plant species Reference | Polymer | Conc. (w/w) | Polymer size | Effect shoot | Effect root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allium fistulosum (spring onion) [127] | PA | 2.0% | 15–20 µm | Decrease dry biomass onion Increase total biomass |
No reported effects |
| PES fibers | 0.2% | Length: 5000 µm Diameter: 8 µm |
Increase total biomass | Increase root biomass | |
| PEHD | 2.0% | med. 643 µm | No reported effects | Trendwise increase root biomass | |
| PP | 2.0% | med. 624 µm | No reported effects | Trendwise increase root biomass | |
| PS | 2.0% | med. 492 µm | Increase total biomass | Increase root biomass | |
| PET | 2.0% | med. 187 µm | Increase total biomass | Trendwise increase root biomass | |
| Daucus carota (carrot) [129] | PP (fibers, film, foam or fragments) | 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% |
max. 5 mm | Increase shoot biomass of 53.1% (fibers), 64.2% (films) and 56.3% (fragments) | Increase of root biomass of 71.5% (fragments) |
| Polyester fibers | 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% |
max. 5 mm | No reported effects | No reported effects | |
| PA fibers | 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% |
max. 5 mm | No reported effects | No reported effects | |
| PE films or foams | 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% |
max. 5 mm | Increase shoot biomass of 43.7% (films) and 64.6% (foams) | Increase of root biomass of 79.9% (films) and 40.4% (foams) | |
| PET films or fragments | 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% |
max 5 mm | Increase shoot biomass of 72.4% (films) and 51.1% (fragments) | Increase of root biomass of 70.0% (films) and 38.0% (fragments) | |
| PS foams | 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% |
max. 5 mm | No reported effects | No reported effects | |
| PU foams | 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% |
max. 5 mm | Increase of shoot biomass of 50.6% | Increase of root biomass of 160.3% | |
| PC fragments | 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% |
max. 5 mm |
Increase of shoot biomass of 54.6% | Increase of root biomass of 42.6% | |
| Lepidium sativum (cress) [138] | Not defined | 50 nm 500 nm 4800 nm |
No reported effects | Increase (50 nm), decrease (500 nm) or no effects (4800 nm) on relative root growth | |
| Triticum aestivum (wheat) [137] | LDPE | 1% | 12.5% [501 µm–1 mm] 62.5% [251 µm–500 µm] 25% [50 µm–250 µm] |
Decrease shoot biomass | No reported effects |
| Starch-based biodegradable plastic (37.1% Pullulan, 44.6% PET, 18.3% PBT) |
1% | 12.5% [501 µm–1 mm] 62.5% [251 µm–500 µm] 25% [50 µm–250 µm] |
Decrease shoot biomass | Decrease root biomass at 2 months harvest, |