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Purpose <p>Coal gangue (CG) dumps are major sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs), posing potential threats to the environment and human health. The coexistence of PAHs and HMs complicates microbial remediation. This study aimed to elucidate microbial interactions under combined HMs-PAHs contamination and their collective influence on the potential for PAH degradation.</p> Materials and methods <p>Topsoil (0–20&#xa0;cm) from a CG dump in Tai’an, China, was analyzed for physicochemical properties, HMs, PAHs, and microbial communities. HMs and PAHs were quantified by ICP-MS and GC-MS, respectively. Bacterial (16&#xa0;S rRNA) and fungal (ITS) communities were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq, and functional genes were inferred with PICRUSt2. Co-occurrence networks and null models characterized microbial interactions and assembly processes, while partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) evaluated direct and indirect effects of contaminants on microbial community structure and PAH degradation potential.</p> Results <p>CG soils were contaminated with PAHs (3.68–38.49&#xa0;mg·kg<sup>− 1</sup>), and the cumulative lifetime cancer risk exceed the threshold (10<sup>− 6</sup>). Microbial community assembly were governed with stochastic processes. The co-occurrence network revealed cooperative interactions, and 18 bacterial and 3 fungal genera were identified as keystone taxa. Functional prediction identified multiple PAH-degradation genes, and the expression was suppressed by Cr. PLS-PM indicated that HMs-PAHs influenced PAH degradation both directly and indirectly through environmental factors.</p> Conclusion <p>Microbial communities play a key role in PAH degradation under combined HMs-PAHs stress. These findings elucidate microbial adaptation mechanisms and support integrated, in situ bioremediation strategies for CG-contaminated environments.</p>

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Microbial co-occurrence network and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation potential in a heavy metal-stressed coal gangue dump

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月19日

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  • Yuqian Li,
  • Haomin Chen,
  • Lijia Cao,
  • Wei Li,
  • Caihong Huang

摘要

Purpose

Coal gangue (CG) dumps are major sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs), posing potential threats to the environment and human health. The coexistence of PAHs and HMs complicates microbial remediation. This study aimed to elucidate microbial interactions under combined HMs-PAHs contamination and their collective influence on the potential for PAH degradation.

Materials and methods

Topsoil (0–20 cm) from a CG dump in Tai’an, China, was analyzed for physicochemical properties, HMs, PAHs, and microbial communities. HMs and PAHs were quantified by ICP-MS and GC-MS, respectively. Bacterial (16 S rRNA) and fungal (ITS) communities were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq, and functional genes were inferred with PICRUSt2. Co-occurrence networks and null models characterized microbial interactions and assembly processes, while partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) evaluated direct and indirect effects of contaminants on microbial community structure and PAH degradation potential.

Results

CG soils were contaminated with PAHs (3.68–38.49 mg·kg− 1), and the cumulative lifetime cancer risk exceed the threshold (10− 6). Microbial community assembly were governed with stochastic processes. The co-occurrence network revealed cooperative interactions, and 18 bacterial and 3 fungal genera were identified as keystone taxa. Functional prediction identified multiple PAH-degradation genes, and the expression was suppressed by Cr. PLS-PM indicated that HMs-PAHs influenced PAH degradation both directly and indirectly through environmental factors.

Conclusion

Microbial communities play a key role in PAH degradation under combined HMs-PAHs stress. These findings elucidate microbial adaptation mechanisms and support integrated, in situ bioremediation strategies for CG-contaminated environments.