Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications

Sedat Gundogdu; Ece Börteçine Kasapoğlu Uludamar; Sümeyya Vuslat Dişkaya; Salim Avcıoğlu; İbrahim Halil Elekcioğlu

doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1886411

Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications

Abstract

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are now widely recognized as pervasive contaminants in terrestrial ecosystems. However, their effects on soil nematodes remain largely confined to dispersed experimental studies, resulting in a fragmented evidence base that necessitates integrative synthesis. In this review, we consolidate current knowledge on the biological and ecological consequences of MNP exposure in nematodes, with particular emphasis on agricultural and greenhouse soil environments where plastic inputs are especially intensive. To achieve this, we followed PRISMA guidelines and screened 251 records retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. After duplicate removal and eligibility assessment, 166 studies were retained for qualitative evaluation, of which 154 provided extractable experimental datasets suitable for comparative analysis. Species representation revealed a pronounced taxonomic skew, with Caenorhabditis elegans serving as the dominant experimental model in more than 150 studies. In contrast, other free-living and entomopathogenic nematodes were only sporadically investigated. Exposure characterization further demonstrated a strong reliance on polystyrene (PS)-based materials, with both micro- and nanopolystyrene frequently employed in experimental designs, followed by polyethylene (PE) as the second most studied polymer. Particle size distributions showed a marked bias toward nanoscale fractions—most commonly around ~100 nm—whereas larger microplastics more representative of soil contamination profiles were comparatively underexplored. Reported exposure concentrations spanned a wide gradient, ranging from environmentally relevant µg L⁻¹ levels to elevated mechanistic doses designed to elicit toxic responses. Across studies, recurring toxicological outcomes included oxidative stress induction, intestinal injury, neurotoxicity, reproductive impairment, and transgenerational effects mediated through epigenetic pathways. Toxicity was often intensified by environmental aging processes, polymer-specific chemistry, and interactions with co-occurring contaminants. Taken together, the available evidence indicates that although mechanistic understanding of MNP toxicity in nematodes has advanced substantially, significant gaps persist in ecological realism, polymer diversity, and multi-species soil assessments. Addressing these limitations will be critical for refining terrestrial risk frameworks and clarifying the long term implications of plastic contamination for soil ecosystem functioning.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Environmental Assessment and Monitoring, Pollution and Contamination (Other), Entomology in Agriculture

Journal Section

Review

Authors

Sedat Gundogdu ^*
0000-0002-4415-2837
Türkiye

Ece Börteçine Kasapoğlu Uludamar
0009-0006-1621-083X
Türkiye

Sümeyya Vuslat Dişkaya
0000-0002-3734-0135
Türkiye

Salim Avcıoğlu This is me
0009-0005-6889-819X
Türkiye

İbrahim Halil Elekcioğlu
0000-0002-1707-7392
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 28, 2026

Submission Date

February 10, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 19, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 32 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1886411

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA54KD32AU

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Gundogdu, S., Kasapoğlu Uludamar, E. B., Dişkaya, S. V., Avcıoğlu, S., & Elekcioğlu, İ. H. (2026). Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 32(3), 552-563. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1886411

AMA

1.Gundogdu S, Kasapoğlu Uludamar EB, Dişkaya SV, Avcıoğlu S, Elekcioğlu İH. Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026;32(3):552-563. doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1886411

Chicago

Gundogdu, Sedat, Ece Börteçine Kasapoğlu Uludamar, Sümeyya Vuslat Dişkaya, Salim Avcıoğlu, and İbrahim Halil Elekcioğlu. 2026. “Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 (3): 552-63. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1886411.

EndNote

Gundogdu S, Kasapoğlu Uludamar EB, Dişkaya SV, Avcıoğlu S, Elekcioğlu İH (July 1, 2026) Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 3 552–563.

IEEE

[1]S. Gundogdu, E. B. Kasapoğlu Uludamar, S. V. Dişkaya, S. Avcıoğlu, and İ. H. Elekcioğlu, “Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications”, J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 552–563, July 2026, doi: 10.15832/ankutbd.1886411.

ISNAD

Gundogdu, Sedat - Kasapoğlu Uludamar, Ece Börteçine - Dişkaya, Sümeyya Vuslat - Avcıoğlu, Salim - Elekcioğlu, İbrahim Halil. “Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32/3 (July 1, 2026): 552-563. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1886411.

JAMA

1.Gundogdu S, Kasapoğlu Uludamar EB, Dişkaya SV, Avcıoğlu S, Elekcioğlu İH. Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026;32:552–563.

MLA

Gundogdu, Sedat, et al. “Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 32, no. 3, July 2026, pp. 552-63, doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1886411.

Vancouver

1.Sedat Gundogdu, Ece Börteçine Kasapoğlu Uludamar, Sümeyya Vuslat Dişkaya, Salim Avcıoğlu, İbrahim Halil Elekcioğlu. Micro- and Nanoplastic Effects on Nematodes: A Systematic Review of Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Characteristics, and Soil Ecological Implications. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026 Jul. 1;32(3):552-63. doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1886411