Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics and Phenanthrene on Soil Properties, Enzyme Activities and Bacterial Communities

Microplastics (MPs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution has received increasing concern due to their ubiquitous distribution and potential risks in soils. However, nothing is known about the influences of PAHs-MPs combined on soil ecosystems. To address knowledge gap, a 1-year microcosm experiment was conducted systematically investigate single effect polyethylene (PE) /phenanthrene (PHE) chemical properties, enzymatic activities bacterial communities (i.e., diversity, composition function). Results showed that PE PHE-PE significantly decreased pH. The available phosphorus (AP) neutral phosphatase activity were not considerably changed by PHE, PHE-PE. Significant enhancement dehydrogenase amended system might be degradation PHE indigenous bacteria Sphingomonas, Sphingobium), could enhance this stimulative effect. led slight increase organic matter (SOM) fluorescein diacetate hydrolase (FDAse) but decrease nitrogen (AN) urease activity. enhanced functions cycle metabolism, reducing SOM/AN contents urease/FDAse activities. There insignificant impacts overall community diversity treated samples, although some genera stimulated attenuated with treatments. In conclusion, addition influenced diversity/composition extent. positive metabolic function lead conspicuous alterations This study may provide new basic information for understanding ecological risk