Contaminants from a former Croatian coal sludge dictate the structure of microbiota in the estuarine (Rasa Bay) sediment and soil.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Croatian superhigh-organic-sulfur Raša coal had been mined for nearly 400 years. The release of hazardous trace elements (HTEs) and toxic organic pollutants (TOPs) into the local environment by coal mining, preparation, and combustion activities has resulted in pollution.

Methods

In this study, the diversity and composition of microbial communities in estuarine sediment and soil samples as well as community function responses to the pollutants were investigated.

Results

The results showed that PAH degradation does occur following 60 years of natural attenuation, the location is still heavily polluted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and HTEs. Microbial analyses have shown that high concentrations of PAHs have reduced the diversity and abundance

SUBMITTER: Zhang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9947854 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature