title: Influence of soil properties and aging on the toxicity of copper on compost worm and barley.
abstract: Influence of soil properties and aging on Cu partitioning and toxicity was assessed on 10 artificial soils constituted using a statistical design considering pH (5.5 and 7.5), organic matter (1-30% [w/w]), and clay content (5-35% [w/w]). Total Cu as well as water-, CaCl2-, and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extracted Cu fractions were determined for each soil mixture. Ecotoxic effect was assessed by determining growth inhibition of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and compost worm (Eisenia fetida) mortality. Analyses were repeated after a 16-wk aging period of the soils at pH 7.5 (8 x 2-wk wetting and drying cycle). Results indicated that pH was the main factor controlling Cu partitioning, ahead of organic matter and clay content. Calcium chloride (0.5 M)-extracted Cu fractions showed the best correlation with toxic responses (r = 0.55-0.66; p < 0.05), while total and DTPA-extracted Cu concentrations could not explain differences in toxicity. Direct regressions between toxicity and soil properties (pH, organic matter, and clay content) provided better explanation of variance: r2= 0.50 (p = 0.00006) for compost worm mortality, r2= 0.77 (p < 0.00001) for barley shoot inhibition, and r2= 0.92 (p < 0.00001) for barley root inhibition. Copper toxicity was mainly influenced by pH and, to a lesser extent, by organic matter and clay content. Aging in organic soils revealed a slight reduction in ecotoxicity while an increase was observed in soils with low organic matter content. Further investigation using longer aging periods would be necessary to assess the significance of this observation.
authors.affiliation: CIRAIG: Interuniversity Reference Center for the Life Cycle Assessment, Interpretation and Management of Products, Processes and Services, 2500 ch. Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Daoust
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bastien
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deschênes
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000077215:Clay; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D001467:Hordeum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006813:Humidity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects*; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D002614:Chelating Agents; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; D003300:Copper; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D000077215:Clay