[A review of uptake, translocation and phytotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles in plants]

With the increasing use of engineered nanoparticles, these materials will inevitably be released into the environment with unknown consequences. The interactions between engineered nanoparticles and plants are of particular concern, and the uptake by plants may constitute one of the main routes of exposure for species at a higher trophic level, leading to possible biomagnification of nanoparticles in the food chain. A review of the current literature shows that nanoparticles can be taken up by plants and cause phytotoxicity. The mechanisms by which engineered nanoparticles penetrate plant cells are still not well understood. Most of the studies have been performed with a few plant species under non-natural conditions such as hydroponics, and have included only the germination or seedling growth stage. Nanoparticles may undergo biotransformation and subsequent translocation within plants, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. Phytotoxicity is an important aspect for assessing potential environmental impacts of nanoparticles, but the mode of toxicity remains to be investigated.