High throughput sequencing analysis of the joint effects of BDE209-Pb on soil bacterial community structure

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE209) and Lead (Pb) are the main pollutants at e-waste recycling sites (EWRSs). However, the impact on soil microorganism of joint exposure to the two chemicals remains almost unknown. Therefore, the indoor incubation tests were performed to determine the response of soil microbial biomass and activity as well as bacterial community structure in the presence of the two chemicals during 60 d incubation period. The results indicated that after Pb alone or BDE209-Pb exposure, soil microbial biomass C (Cmic) was significantly lower (p < 0.01), and soil basal respiration (SBR) and metabolic quotient (qCO2) were enhanced, while BDE209 barely resulted in significant influence (p > 0.05). 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform demonstrated that a total 49,405 valid sequences widely represented the diversity of microbial community. Sequence analyses at phylum and genus taxonomic levels illustrated that 11 identified phyla and 297 genera were observed among all the soil samples, and the contaminants input had affected bacterial community structure, suggesting that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria were the dominant phyla, and the genera Massilia and Bacillus were enriched in contaminated soil. BDE209 exposure alone in all the samples indicated a more similar community structure compared to the control. The results of these observations have provided a better understanding of ecotoxicological effects of BDE209 and Pb joint exposure on indigenous microorganisms in soil at EWRSs.