Impact of soil types and petroleum effluents on the earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae.
Earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae, exposed to different concentrations of dump-site soil and petroleum effluents exhibited different morbidity and mortality responses. Lake sediments caused varied fluctuations in weight over a 20 day exposure period. Colour changes and mortality up to 15% were observed in earthworms cultured in 100% lake sediment, while weight loss, coiling and sluggish movement were observed in 50% lake water. The effects of 100% dump-site soils were more pronounced as 40% death, swelling, body lesions, stiffening, coiling and low reproduction were recorded. Earthworms were useful as an organism in testing the toxicity of dump-site soils and effluent from a petroleum industry. Dump-site soils and soils polluted with petroleum effluent reduced populations of earthworms and this could subsequently affect other components of the ecosystems associated with earthworm activities.
Oboh
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Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Environmental Biology Lab, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. bolaoboh@yahoo.co.uk
Adeyinka
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Awonuga
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Akinola
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D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D007220:Industrial Waste; D010578:Petroleum; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical