Characterization of bacterial communities during persistent fog and haze events in the Qingdao coastal region

• Light haze had little effect on bacterial communities. • Fog and heavy haze had significant effects on these communities. • Air pollution exerted a greater influence than particle size on bacterial community. Here, we report the characteristics of bacterial communities in aerosols with different particle sizes during two persistent fog and haze events in December of 2015 and 2016 in Qingdao, China. In the early stage of pollution, the accumulation of PM_2.5 led to the accumulation of microorganisms, thus increasing the bacterial richness and diversity of fine particle sizes. With the persistence and aggravation of pollution, the toxic effect was strengthened, and the bacterial richness and diversity of each particle size decreased. When the particle concentration was highest, the richness and diversity were low for each particle size. Light haze had little influence on bacterial communities. The occurrence of highly polluted humid weather and heavy haze resulted in significant changes in bacterial community diversity, composition and structure, and air pollution exerted a greater influence than particle size on bacterial community structure. During persistent fog and haze events, with the increase of pollutants, bacteria associated with each particle size may be extensively involved in aerosol chemistry, but the degree of participation varies, which requires further study.