Transfer of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in a soil-plant-invertebrate food chain: a microcosm study.
The transfer of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn was evaluated in a soil-plant (lettuce, Lactuca sativa)-invertebrate (snail, Helix aspersa) food chain during a microcosm experiment. Two agricultural soils, polluted and unpolluted, were studied. Lettuce was cultivated for eight weeks before introduction of snails into the microcosms (M-snails). In a parallel experiment, snails were exposed to lettuce only (i.e., without soil) in simpler exposure devices called containers (C-snails). Snail exposure duration was eight weeks for both M- and C-snails. No effects on snail survival were found. Both M- and C-snails exposed to polluted soil showed a growth reduction, but only after two weeks of exposure. Time-dependent accumulation in M-snails exposed to the polluted environment showed a regular increase of Cd and Zn concentrations over time and a rapid increase of Pb concentrations within the first two weeks, which then remained stable. Copper and Ni concentrations did not increase during any of the experiments. Concentrations in M- and C-snails were compared to estimate the relative contribution of soil and plant to the total bioaccumulation. The results suggest that the soil contribution may be higher than 80% for Pb, from 30 to 60% for Zn, and from 2 to 40% for Cd.
Environmental Biology, EA 3184 Aff. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, University of Franche-Comté, Place Leclerc, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France. renaud.scheifler@univ-fcomte.fr
Renaud
R
Scheifler
Annette
A
de Vaufleury
Michaël
M
Coeurdassier
Nadia
N
Crini
Pierre-Marie
PM
Badot
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D020387:Food Chain; D006372:Helix, Snails; D018545:Lactuca / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants