The impact of microplastic and sulfanilamide co-exposure on soil microbiota

Microplastics, as emerging contaminants, can absorb antibiotics, and their coexistence in soil ecosystems poses serious threats to soil health. While previous studies have primarily focused on the individual effects of microplastics or antibiotics, the interactions between these pollutants in soil environments remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of sulfonamide antibiotics and microplastics-both non-degradable low-density polyethylene and degradable polylactic acid-on soil microbiota and physicochemical properties. Our findings revealed significant changes in soil properties under co-exposure conditions. Dissolved organic carbon emerged as the most influential factor affecting bacterial and fungal diversity. Co-exposure altered the composition of bacterial and fungal communities at both the phylum and genus levels, with soil bacteria showing stronger responses than fungi. Importantly, co-exposure exacerbated the ecological risks associated with individual contaminants. We also observed differences in how non-degradable and degradable microplastics impacted the stability and complexity of microbial community networks. Notably, co-exposure to degradable microplastics and sulfonamides led to a significant increase in the expression of antibiotic resistance genes (sul1 and int1). These findings enhance our understanding of the combined effects of microplastics and antibiotics on soil ecosystems and underscore the need for further research into their ecological risks.