Monitoring of microplastic pollution in sediments along the Çoruh River Basin, NE Türkiye.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a research issue on the world agenda. Monitoring studies are essential for MP content in aquatic environments since it is the final accumulation point. The present study focused on MP characterizations in sediment samples taken from 20 different stations on the Çoruh River, the major river in the North East of Türkiye. Accordingly, the potential anthropogenic pollution from settlements near the four stations (2, 15, 18, and 20) exceeding 400 MP kg-1 was estimated. On the other hand, stations (1, 3, 9, 11, and 13) far from settlements with quite low MP abundance were also observed. The polymer structures of the detected MPs are generally PE and PET, and their shapes are mostly fiber. This situation raises suspicion that MPs originate from primary use waste such as water bottles and packaging materials. In general, the fiber MPs are smaller than the fragments because of the river's high water flow rate and the low strength of the fiber MPs. In light of these results, the current monitoring data in the region will create awareness and guidance regarding MP pollution in settlements.

Microplastic pollution in stream sediments discharging from Türkiye's eastern Black sea basin.

Rivers are the principal route for terrestrial microplastics to reach the marine environment. The Black Sea exhibits a notable representation because it has a drainage zone almost six times the surface area and is semi-closed, meaning that microplastics tend to gather there. To mitigate MP pollution, it is necessary to identify the contamination sources and then raise public awareness. Thus, the current study focused on the MP presence in the sediment of streams running into the SE Black Sea. 594 MPs were observed in sediment samples from 16 stations along the 350 km coastline. The abundance of MP was higher, particularly in streams that pass through locations with high tourism and industrial activity levels. Detected MPs ranged between 0.1 and 5 mm, while the overall density was smaller than 1 mm. Fragments and fiber MPs were regularly detected, although the presence of films was rarely recorded. The polymer structures that were most commonly observed in the analyzed pollutants were PET and PE. The current study uncovered MP contamination in stream sediments originating from Türkiye's Eastern Black Sea basin and might be a baseline work for future inland water studies.

Investigation of heavy metals in tissues and habitats of three edible frogs from Türkiye.

The soil, water, and organisms have been contaminated by heavy metals due to human activities and industrialization, which has produced a major environmental problem that has a deleterious effect on human health and food quality. Frogs, one of the good bioindicators for environmental pollution, are also among the alternative essential protein sources for humans. In Türkiye, three of these frogs are edible: Pelophylax ridibundus, Pelophylax bedriagae, and Pelophylax caralitanus, also known as Anatolian water frogs. Hence, to assess the possible health risks that might result from consuming frog legs in addition aquatic habitat of Anatolian water frogs, the water, sediment, and frog tissue samples (muscle and liver) were obtained from 11 different provinces covering all regions of Türkiye and analyzed to determine Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, and As concentrations. The results revealed considerable variations in heavy metal concentrations among frog tissues, influenced by the sampling sites and species (ANOVA: p < 0.05). The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values, calculated based on the average serving size, were also lower than the Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI) levels for adult consumers. Furthermore, the study computed the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values for heavy metals, all of which were below the critical value of 1, indicating that consuming the hind leg muscles from these frog species would not pose an adverse health risk for humans.

Long-term investigation of microplastic abundance in Squalius species in Turkish inland waters.

Examining the enduring alterations in microplastic (MP) concentrations within fish in inland waters is of utmost importance in understanding the historical trajectory of plastic waste and formulating consequential predictions regarding upcoming pollution levels. This study includes the collection of fish samples from 22 different river basins in Türkiye and all Squalius species distributed in Türkiye, covering the years 2004-2018, and examined the presence of MP in museum specimens' gastrointestinal tracts (GITs). 331 specimens were examined, and microplastic was observed in 20.8% (69). A mean value of 0.27 ± 0.19 MP per individual was observed, resulting in a cumulative score of 91 MP. Most observed MPs were composed of fiber, representing 79.1% of the total. The polymer types identified were mostly polyethylene (PE) at 38.5% and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at 29.7%. The black color was prominent among MPs, and MP length ranged between 101 and 4963 µm. The analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in the mean MP values across different years and basins. There is no substantial correlation between the abundance of MP and the sizes of fish, population density, or quantities of plastic production. The data indicate that MP has persistently acted as a contaminant in freshwater ecosystems over an extended period. It is projected that the laundering of synthetic textiles serves as the primary contributor to MP contamination in freshwater bodies. Our results offer significant baseline data on the pervasive issue of MP pollution in the freshwater environment. These findings enable us to gain profound insights into the current state of MP contamination in fish residing in lotic systems while empowering us to make accurate predictions about its future trajectory.

Methylmercury and mercury in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Turkish coast: Dietary exposure prediction.

The spatial distribution of total mercury (HgT) and methylmercury (MeHg) in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) sampled at 23 different stations along Türkiye's Black Sea, the Marmara, and Aegean Sea coasts were investigated in this study. HgT and MeHg were determined using a direct mercury analyzer and ranged 1.10-130.70 µg/kg and 0.22-37.90 µg/kg dry weight, respectively. HgT and MeHg have been determined to have a substantial positive correlation (r2 = 0.94). According to average consumption and portion sizes, the weekly intake (EWI) for MeHg was less than the 1.6 µg/kg/week limits set by the FAO/WHO Joint Committee of Experts on Food Additives (JECFA) for both pediatric and adult consumers. The Target Risk Coefficients (THQ) were calculated to explain the potential long-term exposure scenarios. Our data showed that the excessive consumption of mussels from areas with high MeHg concentrations might pose a risk only for pediatric consumers. The determination of suitable sites for healthy-sustainable mussel production as well as the prevention of collecting mussels from illegal and polluted fields and placing them on the market, should be considered in the context of consumer health awareness.

Monthly microplastics change in European anchovy's (Engraulis encrasicolus) gastrointestinal tract in the Black Sea.

To contribute to a better understanding of the regional dynamics of MP pollution and its potential effects on the anchovy population and human health, here we assessed the presence and characterization of microplastics (MPs) in European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), which is the most caught/consumed species in the Black Sea and is of vital importance to the ecosystem. A total of 360 individuals (30 per month) were sampled from the eastern Black Sea continental shelf all year round (monthly from September 20 to Aug 21). We extracted and digested the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of the samples with H2O2 and characterized the MPs in the GITs by stereomicroscope and ATR-FTIR. MPs varied between 0 and 0.43 MP individual-1. The morphological structure of MPs was composed of 51 % fiber > fragment (32.7 %) > film (12.2 %) > foam (4.1 %) and polymer types as PP (42.9 %) and PE (22.4 %). In the prevalence of MP colors, black (26.5 %) > white (24.5 %) > red (22.5 %) was observed. The mean MP size was 735.32 ± 836.62 µm, with no significant correlation between the abundance and size of ingested MPs and anchovy height/weight and GIT weight. We determined that MP abundance showed substantial differences between the fishing season (0.18 ± 0.05 MP ind-1) and the banned season (0.05 ± 0.03 MP ind-1). It is essential to develop effective waste management strategies to protect the vulnerable marine ecosystems of the Black Sea and ensure sustainable exploitation of living resources in this region. These strategies should be accompanied by robust monitoring and enforcement measures to guarantee their effectiveness and compliance.

Tea-based biochar-mediated changes in cation diffusion homeostasis in rice grown in heavy metal (loid) contaminated mining soil.

Foreseeable future scenarios highlight the urgency of applying eco-safe avoidance methods or tolerance to heavy metal(loid) (HM) stress in agricultural production areas of contamination. The analyses show that the Ni, Mn, As, and Cr concentrations detected in the soils of the paddy fields in the Black Sea region vary between 123.60 and 263.30; 687-1271; 8.90-14.50; 162.00-340.00 mg kg-1 proving high accumulation of Ni, Mn, As, Cr in rice. Overconsumption of rice farmed extensively on these soils might also lead to human HM-related health problems. Therefore, in the current study, the approach of using tea-based biochar (BC) proven to have one of the most significant potentials as a soil amendment to reduce HM transmission to in-vitro-grown rice plants was investigated in the soil medium naturally contaminated with HMs. The tea-BC was produced from readily available local black tea waste of a conventional fermentation process and applied in the in-vitro experiments. Among the tested doses examined, 1% tea-BC showed a more positive effect on rice plant growth and development characterized by a better relative growth rate (59.7 and 84 mg g-1 d-1 for root and shoot tissues), photosynthetic pigment intactness (62.48 µg mL-1), cellular membrane integrity (93%), and relative water (96%) than the other rates (0% BC, 3%BC, 5%BC). The mRNA expression data highlights the probability of a cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) (OsMTP11) in concert with catalase isozyme (CATa) and dehydration-responsive element binding protein (DREB1a) linking the HM detoxification, oxidative defense, and dehydration pathways with the help of tea-BC. At the optimum concentration (1%BC), this approach might reduce HM accumulation levels of crops planted in HM-contaminated farmlands.

Microplastic emission trends in Turkish primary and secondary municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents discharged into the Sea of Marmara and Black Sea.

Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are recognized as one of the primary sources of microplastics, a class of contaminants that has lately gained attention. The quantity of MP that WWTPs release into the environment depends on several factors, including the treatment type, season, and population serviced. MP abundance and characterization were explored in 15 WWTP effluent waters, 9 discharged to the Black Sea from Türkiye and 6 to the Marmara Sea, with varying population densities and treatment methods. The mean MP abundance in primary treatment WWTPs (76.25 ± 49.20 MP L-1) was found to be substantially greater than that in secondary treatment WWTPs (20.57 ± 21.56 MP L-1) (p<0.05). MPs in WWTP effluent waters showed significant seasonal and spatial differences (Two Way ANOVA, Tukey, p<0.05). However, no positive correlation was detected between the population serviced and MP abundance in effluent waters. While the fiber was the dominant shape (49.5%) among MPs in effluent waters, ≈80% of the length was <1000 µm. MPs are classified into polymer types as follows: polyethylene terephthalate (34.9%) > polypropylene (32.4%) > polyethylene (19.9%) > polyamide (11%) > polystyrene (1.2%) > polyvinyl chloride (0.6%). With effluent waters from the WWTPs tested, we calculated that 1.24x1010 daily MPs are discharged into the Black Sea while 4.95x1010 MPs are into the Marmara Sea, for a combined annual discharge of 2.26x1013 MPs highlighting that WWTPs are key contributors of MP in Turkish coastal waters.

Protracted dynamicity of microplastics in the coastal sediment of the Southeast Black Sea.

This study provided the first evaluation of microplastic abundance, features, risk assessment, and decade-changing status in sediment along the southeastern Black Sea coast. Sediment samples were collected from thirteen stations in the Southeast Black Sea in 2012 and 2022. >70 % of the detected microplastics had a length of up to 2.5 mm and consisted of fragments and fibers in shape. The average microplastic abundance in the sediment samples was 108 MP/kg. The composition in the sediment (particles/kg) was dominated by polyethylene (PE) (44.9 %), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (27.2 %), and polypropylene PP (15.2 %). Remarkable results for contamination factors, polymeric risk assessment and contamination risk indices. The sharp rise in MPS highlighted the heavily populated stations and stream discharge locations. The data shed light on anthropogenic and basal microplastic pollution in the Southeast Black Sea, assisting in developing effective policies for preserving and managing the Black Sea environment.

Microplastic prevalence in anatolian water frogs (Pelophylax spp.).

Frogs are on the verge of extinction due to various biotic and abiotic stressors. Rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and ditches that make up their habitats are exposed to different anthropogenic pollutants. Today, plastics stand out among these pollutants due to their widespread use; however, the information on microplastic (MP) accumulation in frogs is insufficient. In the present study, adult frog samples were collected from 19 different stations in Türkiye, including marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus) from 18 stations and levantine frogs (Pelophylax bedriagae) from 1 station. MP was found in 147 (82.4%) of the 176 frogs that were analyzed. MP abundance in frogs varied between 0.20 and 18.93 MP individual-1. The characterization of MPs was determined predominantly as follows; PET (70.1%) in polymer type, fiber (92.2%) in shape, navy blue/blue (76.1%) in color, and >90% were smaller than 300 µm. No significant relationship with frog's weight (correlation coefficient = 0.01, P = 0.812) or length (correlation coefficient = 0.06, P = 0.473) and MP abundance was detected. The outcomes of this survey might be a baseline to assess the ecological risks posed by MPs and to guide future experimental research.

The broad-scale microplastic distribution in surface water and sediments along Northeastern Mediterranean shoreline.

Plastics manufactured to fulfil the unique demands of civilization accumulate in the sea due to their durability. Microplastics (MP) pose a greater threat than macroplastics as they can easily enter the aquatic environment and be hard to detect. MPs potentially impact several components of the marine life and food chain. This study determined MP distribution and characterization by collecting sediment from 47 different stations and surface seawater (SSW) from 29 stations in 2019 along the Turkish coast of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Potential MP particles were stained with Nile-Red and verified using ATR-FTIR. While MP abundance in the sediment ranged between 118 ± 97 and 1688 ± 746 MPs kg-1, it varied between 0.18 ± 0.10 MPs m-3 and 2.21 ± 1.75 MPs m-3 in SSW. The MP abundance showed significant spatial variation (p < 0.05). The polymer type in the samples was determined by ATR-FTIR. In both water and sediments, polyethylene was the most common MP type (>59 %), while fragment was the most common MP form (>57.6 %), and >65 % of overall MPs were <1500 µm. The spatial pattern of MPs in the sediments and SSW was affected by the population, the magnitude of the tourism sector, the rim current, and circulation. The monitoring data presented here can provide a remarkable projection of the current trend and form a basis for future MP pollution prevention.

Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish species from the southern Black Sea coast.

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a serious threat to today's marine life. Therefore, this study investigates MP ingestion in three commercial fish species (European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, whiting Merlangius merlangus, and red mullet Mullus barbatus) from the Turkish coast of the Black Sea. Ninety-five MPs were detected in all examined fish (371). Fiber forms were detected in the majority of cases based on the MP morphology. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most dominant polymer type. The mean of ingested MPs was found as 0.15 ±â€¯0.04, 0.28 ±â€¯0.06, 0.40 ±â€¯0.07 in anchovy, whiting and red mullet, respectively. The size of the MPs ranged from 118 µm and 4854 µm. The MP waste was detected in each species, and the highest MP amount was determined in the red mullet, which was significantly higher than European anchovy. The present study's data might be a baseline on the ecological risk assessment of MPs in the fish and future experimental studies on the fish species living in the Black Sea.

The microplastic pattern of wild-caught Mediterranean mussels from the Marmara Sea.

The Sea of Marmara suffers from pollutants that come from municipal/industrial discharges and the Black Sea. Microplastic (MP)s, a rising environmental concern with consequences for seafood safety, are one of these contaminants. Thus, the abundance and feature of MPs in wild populations of the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from 20 sites along the sea of Marmara coastlines were analyzed herein. In total, 812 MPs were detected in 412 mussels. The MPs ranged from 0.30 to 7.53 MP individual-1 and 0.11 to 4.58 MP g-1 fresh weight. The most common shape of the MPs detected was fiber (81.16%), the majority of which were smaller than 1 mm. Polymer types were verified by FTIR, and 14 different polymers have been identified; the dominant was polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 66.38%). When one is served by a mussel meal weekly, the risk statistics project that the exposure will be 252 MPs per portion. Yet, the risk associated with the MP-contaminated mussel consumption is insignificant according to hypothetical calculations using a chemical additive (bisphenol A).

Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements and Health Risk Predictions in Edible Tissues of the Marsh Frog.

Certain amphibian species have long served as a valuable protein source for humans, in addition to being good bioindicators for environmental pollutants. Hence, to investigate the consumption outcomes leading to potential health risks, we determined the trace element (TE) levels in the hind leg and liver tissues of marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus), one of the delicacies of several cuisines today. The sediment, water, and frog tissue samples were collected from 15 different locations of NE Turkey and analyzed to determine the arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn) concentrations. The TE concentrations in the sediment, water, and individuals were detected to show significant variations among sampling stations (p < 0.05). Yet, Cd and Pb concentrations of the hind legs cooked and enjoyed in the diets were determined below the European Commission's permitted levels. Furthermore, based on the TEs in edible tissues, consumption of the marsh frog did not appear to pose a risk to humans in terms of provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), target hazard coefficient (THQ), and hazard index (HI).

Microplastic contamination and characteristics spatially vary in the southern Black Sea beach sediment and sea surface water.

In this study, the abundance, and characteristics of the microplastics on the southern coast of the Black Sea were assessed. More than 70% of the detected microplastics were smaller than 2.5 mm and mostly consisted of fibers and fragments. The average microplastic abundance in the beach sediment and seawater were 64.06 ± 8.95 particles/kg and 18.68 ± 3.01 particles/m3, respectively. The western coast of the study area (Marmara region) was the most polluted area, and a spatially significant difference was determined in terms of abundance. The composition in the beach sediment (particles/kg) was dominated by styrene acrylonitrile copolymer (SAC) (40.53%), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (38.75%), and polyethylene (PE) (6.91%), whereas the seawater (particles/m3) was dominated by PET (57.26%), PE (13.52%), and polypropylene PP (11.24%). The results of our study can be a baseline for environmental modeling studies and experimental studies on the marine organisms inhabiting the Black Sea.

Hallmarking microplastics of sediments and Chamelea gallina inhabiting Southwestern Black Sea: A hypothetical look at consumption risks.

The consumer preference of bivalves originating from fishery or aquaculture has gained momentum in response to higher nutrition, quality, and market availability. However, potential toxicity caused by plastics, the pollution icons of the current era, could raise concerns for the sources of essential nutrients provided by bivalves. Thus, we investigated the abundance, spatial distribution, polymer composition, size, and the shapes of the microplastics (MPs) in the sediment and Chamelea gallina from 15 sites at gradual depths (10 and 30 m) along the Southwestern Black Sea coast. The abundance of the MPs ranged from 28 to 684 MP kg-1 in the sediments and the amount of 0.22-2.17 MP individual-1 (or 0.20-2.16 MP g-1 fresh weight soft tissue) in C. gallina. Seven types of polymers were detected by FTIR, and the most abundant type was polyethylene terephthalate (34.2-35.1%), polyethylene (28-31.1%), and polypropylene (18.9-21%). MP sizes were ranged from 73 to 4987 µm. 47% and 65% of the MPs in the sediments and C. gallina, respectively, were <1000 µm in size. The most dominant shape of the MPs was found as fibers (56.5% for sediments and 68.9% for C. gallina). The risk data predicted that people are exposed to 304 MPs when consuming a single portion of C. gallina weekly. Hypothetical calculations performed with a chemical additive simulation (bisphenol A) showed that the risk associated with the MP-contaminated C. gallina model is negligible, and the consumption is rather beneficial due to already known positive aspects.

Characteristics and temporal trends of microplastics in the coastal area in the Southern Black Sea over the past decade.

Time-series datasets showing the gradual conformational change in the status and characteristics of microplastics (MP) in marine waters are needed to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. In this study, the abundance, spatiotemporal distribution, polymer composition, size, and shapes of the MP in the seawater sampled from 0.5 (station-1), 2.5 (station-2), and 5 (station-3) miles off the coast of the southeastern Black Sea between 2009 and 2020 were investigated. The abundance of the MP ranged from 0.181 to 0.944 m-3. The amounts of MP in the stations, from the greatest to the smallest, were 0.65 MP m-3 (2), 0.45 MP m-3 (1), 0.29 MP m-3 (3). Thirteen types of polymers were detected by FTIR, the most abundant types of which were polyethylene (44.9%) and polyethylene terephthalate (25.3%). Sizes of MP ranged from 118 to 4998 µm, 50% being smaller than 2000 µm. The most dominant shape of the MPs was fragments (56.3%). Abundance did not show significant spatiotemporal changes. Periodical data presented herein may represent a remarkable projection and create a baseline for the ecosystem's future functioning and pollution research in the Black Sea.

Comparative trace element trends in Posidonia oceanica and its sediments along the Turkish-Mediterranean Sea coast.

Concentrations of eight trace elements (V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) were investigated in Posidonia oceanica leaf blades and sediments sampled from 23 stations along the Turkish-Mediterranean Sea coast. Trace element (TE) concentration in both sediment and P. oceanica showed a statistically significant distribution among sampling stations. Most of the TE concentration in samples varied remarkably among stations without a consistent trend. Concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb in the sediment of all of the sampling stations were determined as non-polluted based on the comparison with the sediment quality guideline index. More than a quarter of the sampling stations were found as moderately or heavily polluted for Cr, Ni, and As. The mean TE concentrations found in the sediment sample in the present study were similar to the concentrations reported from the different parts of the eastern Mediterranean Sea. TE concentrations in P. oceanica were generally lower compared to the concentrations in the sediment except for Cd, Zn, and Cu. While a positive correlation was found for Ni concentrations between sediment and P. oceanica samples, negative correlation was detected for V, Cr, Zn, Cu, As, and Cd concentrations between sediment and P. oceanica. The highest bioaccumulation factor in P. oceanica was calculated for Cd. The study area of the present study, especially the western sites (provinces of Antalya and Mugla), hosts millions of tourists annually and under the influence of intensive human activities in summer. Thus, coastal waters are heavily exposed to TEs and significantly positive correlations were detected between the anthropogenic TE pollutants (As, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, and V) and natural sourced TE (Ni and Cr). Based on our data, the Mediterranean Sea coast of Turkey does not present significant levels of Zd, Cd, Cu, and Pb pollution, whereas 65% of the stations were heavily polluted with As. Since As categorized as carcinogenic to humans, seafood sources should be monitored in terms of As concentrations. The current data might be useful in further TE-monitoring studies and TE discharge management strategies.

Spatial trace element bioaccumulation along with consumer risk simulations of Mediterranean mussels in coastal waters of Turkey.

Turkey borders three seas and the most populous locations are squeezed into the coastal territories. Thus, organisms living in these aquatic territories are under longstanding anthropogenic pressure. Hence, this study investigated the consumption outcomes leading to potential child and adult health risks along with the spatial distribution of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn in the Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) sampled at 23 different stations from the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and the Aegean Sea coastal waters of Turkey. The mean concentrations of trace elements found in the Mediterranean mussels followed Zn (39.75 mg kg-1) > Cu (1.95 mg kg-1) > As (1.84 mg kg-1) > Pb (0.99 mg kg-1) > Ni (0.65 mg kg-1) > Cr (0.62 mg kg-1) > V (0.47 mg kg-1) > Cd (0.08 mg kg-1). Factor analysis revealed that trace elements were mostly derived from anthropogenic sources. Pb values were found to be above the permissible European Union limits at 10 sampling stations. While the estimated weekly intake did not exceed the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives limits, the target hazard quotient for As was found >1 for children. The lifetime cancer risk (CR) for adults and children was unacceptable (>10-4) at high consumption rates for As according to US Environmental Protection Agency. Monte Carlo simulation confirmed a CR to adult (62.98%) and children (97.24%) mussel consumers caused by As.

Particle size-dependent biomolecular footprints of interactive microplastics in maize.

The world is dealing with the mismanaged plastic waste found even in the Arctic. The crisis is being tried to solve with the plastivor bugs or bio-plastics, and the marine pollution profiles become priority however, putative phytotoxicity on terrestrial farming have not received significant attention. Hence, morpho-physiological and molecular response in maize seedlings exposed to the most prevalent microplastic (MP) types (PP, PET, PVC, PS, PE) differing in their particle size (75-150 µm and 150-212 µm) and combinations (PP + PET + PVC + PS + PE mix) was analyzed here for a predictive holistic model. While POD1 regulating the oxidative defense showed a slight down-regulation, HSP1 abundance quantified in the 75-150 µm MP lead a significant up-regulation particularly for PET (2.2 fold) PVC (3.3 fold), and the MP mix (6.4 fold). Biochemical imbalance detected at lower sized (75-150 µm) MPs in particular at the MP mix, involved the cell membrane instability, lesser photosynthetic pigments and a conjectural restraint in the photosynthetic capacity along with the accumulated endogenous H2O2 proved that the bigger the particle size the better the cells restore the damage under MP-caused xenobiotic stress. The determination of the impacts of MP pollution in in-vitro agricultural models might guide the development of policies in this direction and help ensure agricultural security by predicting the possible pollution damage.