NGS-BASED CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES AND FUNCTIONAL PROFILES OF SOIL POLLUTED WITH PCBS. Metagenomic studies of the soil contaminated with the PCBs

Increased industrialization in developed/ developing countries has resulted in many types of pollutants contaminating the environment over recent decades. Anthropogenic activities have introduced numerous xenobiotic hydrophobic organic compounds into the natural environment. Many of these contaminants have multiple toxic and mutagenic effects on human health as well as the environment. Polychlorinated biphenyls are among one such group of notorious contaminants.Their physicochemical properties cause them to be persistent in the environment, and to exhibit tendencies for bioaccumulation and biomagnification, and long-range transport and deposition in places far removed from emission sources. In addition, they cause chronic toxicity and are ubiquitous in ecosystems and humans