Survival, Pb-uptake and behaviour of three species of earthworm in Pb treated soils determined using an OECD-style toxicity test and a soil avoidance test.
Mature (clitellate) Eisenia andrei Bouché (ultra epigeic), Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister (epigeic), and Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) (endogeic) earthworms were placed in soils treated with Pb(NO(3))(2) to have concentrations in the range 1,000 to 10,000 mg Pb kg(-1). After 28 days LC50(-95%confidence limit)(+95%confidence limit) values were E. andrei 5824(-361)(+898) mg Pb kg(-1), L. rubellus 2867(-193)(+145) mg Pb kg(-1) and A. caliginosa2747(-304)(+239) mg Pb kg(-1) and EC50s for weight change were E. andrei2841(-68)(+150) mg Pb kg(-1), L. rubellus1303(-201)(+240) mg Pb kg(-1) and A. caliginosa1208(-206)(+212) mg Pb kg(-1). At any given soil Pb concentration, Pb tissue concentrations after 28 days were the same for all three earthworm species. In a soil avoidance test there was no difference between the behaviour of the different species. The lower sensitivity to Pb exhibited by E. andrei is most likely due to physiological adaptations associated with the modes of life of the earthworms, and could have serious implications for the use of this earthworm as the species of choice in standard toxicological testing.
Langdon
Caroline J
CJ
Department of Soil Science, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6DW, UK. clangdon@uclan,ac.uk
Hodson
Mark E
ME
Arnold
Rebecca E
RE
Black
Stuart
S
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004924:Escape Reaction; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013045:Species Specificity; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead