Dysbiosis in the Gut Microbiota of Soil Fauna Explains the Toxicity of Tire Tread Particles

) were detected in the TPs, which resulted in their increased concentrations in soils amended with TPs. We demonstrated that TPs had an adverse effect on the survival (decreased by more than 25%) and reproduction (decreased by more than 50%) of the soil worms. Moreover, TP exposure disturbed the microbiota of the worm guts and surrounding soil. In addition, a covariation between bacterial and fungal communities was observed in the worm guts after exposure to TPs. Further analysis showed that TP exposure caused an enrichment of microbial genera associated with opportunistic pathogenesis in the worm guts. The combined results from this study indicate that TPs might threaten the terrestrial ecosystem by affecting soil fauna and their gut microbiota.