Effects of PAHs enrichment on microbial community structure and function in the sediments of Antarctic and Arctic

Understanding microbial community responses to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution is essential for assessing the current status of PAH contamination in polar regions. In this study, intertidal and marine sediments were enriched with a mixture of PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and anthracene). High throughput sequencing and functional prediction were combined to systematically analyze bacterial structural and functional responses to PAH exposure.