Metagenomics of sediments from an As-contaminated aquifer

The clay layer, generally considered to protect the aquifer from contamination, could act as a source to exacerbate the enrichment of arsenic (As) in the aquifer. However, microbial processes in the clay layer and their connection with the underlaying aquifers responsible for As mobilization are poorly understood. In this study, metagenomics was used to characterize functional potential in these sediments from a borehole across the clay and sand layers in Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia, China.