Microbiome of soil polluted with microplastics and chemicals

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are increasingly detected in terrestrial environments, where they can adversely affect soil ecosystems. Biodegradable ECs and non-biodegradable microplastics (MPs) often co-occur in soil, yet their combined effects on ECs degradation and soil microbial communities is not known. This study examined how interactions between a mixture of ECs (diuron, terbutryn, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, and 17a-ethinnylestradiol (EE2) ) and polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) influence ECs degradation, soil respiration and microbial community composition.