Samples collected from offshore wind farms might affect marine sediment quality and microbial communities

We used chemical and microbiological observations to evaluate sediment quality and microbial community structure. The physicochemical features of the sediments could better explain changes in the microorganisms present, and screening the microbiomes showed a correlation with heavy metal levels, linking the relative abundance of microorganisms to the sediment quality index. This comprehensive study fills a knowledge gap in China and adds to our understanding of how to assess the sedimentary environments of offshore wind farms.