phytotoxicity
Phytotoxicity refers to the harmful effects that chemical substances—such as herbicides, heavy metals, excess fertilizers, or nanoparticles—exert on plant growth, physiology, and metabolism. Understanding phytotoxicity is critical to plant science because it underlies key processes like the disruption of photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, cell division, and seed germination. Research in this area informs safe agrochemical use, environmental risk assessment, and the development of more resilient crops capable of tolerating chemical stressors.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-03-24
Tire wear particles (TWPs) shed from vehicles accumulate in soils and release a complex cocktail of metals, hydrocarbons, and chemical additives that measurably harm plant growth and health. This review highlights TWPs as an underappreciated form of pollution with direct consequences for terrestrial plant ecosystems.
TWPs are rubber-mineral composites that continuously release evolving mixtures of metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and reactive chemical additives into surrounding soils.
TWPs represent a major and distinct source of microplastic pollution in terrestrial environments, separate from conventional plastic debris.
Exposure to TWP-derived contaminants negatively influences plant performance, implicating roadside and urban soils as zones of elevated phytotoxic risk.