Interaction of micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) with agricultural stored products and their pests

Micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) pose significant environmental concerns due to their potential implications for ecosystems and human health. While previous research has primarily focused on the environmental impacts (aquatic ecosystem, soil health) of MNPs, this review investigates their interactions with agricultural stored products, specifically their effects on stored product pests and grain quality. MNPs can infiltrate grains through various pathways, including atmospheric deposition, plastic residues from cultivation, and pest activity. These contaminants may influence pest feeding and behavioral patterns, reproductive cycles, and development. Simultaneously, MNPs have the potential to alter grain properties, including mineral content, protein composition, and starch synthesis, potentially compromising nutritional quality. Understanding these interactions is critical for developing strategies to mitigate the dual threats of MNP pollution and pest infestations to stored agricultural products.