Polyvinyl chloride microplastics disseminate antibiotic resistance genes in Chinese soil: A metagenomic analysis

Shuwen Zhao, Qianru Zhang, Qilan Huang, Chuchen Zhang, Hongna Li, Kadambot H.M. Siddique

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The widespread prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment poses concerns as they are vectors of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The relationships between antibiotic resistomes and MPs remain unexplored in soil which was considered as the reservoirs of MPs and ARGs. This study investigated the effects of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs on soil bacterial communities and ARG abundance which soil samples sourced from 20 provinces across China. We found that PVC significantly influences soil bacterial community structure and ARG abundance. Structural equation modeling revealed that PVC alters soil characteristics, ultimately affecting soil bacterial communities, including ARG-containing bacterial hosts, and the relative abundance of ARGs. This study enhances our understanding of how MPs influence the proliferation and hosts of ARGs within diverse soil environments, offering crucial insights for future strategies in plastic management and disposal.

Original languageEnglish
Article number135727
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials
Volume479
Early online date7 Sept 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Nov 2024

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