Effects of Environmental Chemical Pollutants on Microbiome Diversity: Insights from Shotgun Metagenomics.

ABSTRACT: Chemical exposure in the environment can adversely affect the biodiversity of living organisms, particularly when persistent chemicals accumulate over time and disrupt the balance of microbial populations. In this study, we examined how chemical contaminants influence microorganisms in sediment and overlaying water samples collected from the Kinnickinnic, Milwaukee, and Menomonee Rivers near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. We characterized these samples using shotgun metagenomic sequencing to assess microbiome diversity and employed chemical analyses to quantify more than 200 compounds spanning 16 broad classes, including pesticides, industrial products, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. Integrative and differential comparative analyses of the combined datasets revealed that microbia

SUBMITTER: Muhie S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11861561 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature