Overview
- University of Cambridge scientists tested 1,076 industrial and agricultural chemicals against 22 gut bacterial strains, documenting 588 inhibitory interactions.
- Roughly one in six chemicals (168) suppressed growth of at least one strain, with fungicides and several industrial pollutants showing the strongest effects.
- Bacteria from the order Bacteroidales appeared particularly vulnerable in vitro, raising concerns about disruption of abundant fiber-degrading microbes.
- Some exposures prompted bacterial changes linked to resistance to antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin in laboratory conditions.
- The team published a machine-learning model to predict microbiome toxicity and advised washing produce and avoiding home pesticide use pending exposure monitoring.