title: The co-application of earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta) and compost to increase hydrocarbon losses from diesel contaminated soils.
abstract: The feasibility of using composted civic waste for the remediation of a soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH) 10+/-1.8 g kg(-1) and total 16 USEPA PAH 1.62+/-0.5 g kg(-1)) was assessed. The effects of compost to soil ratio, in combination with and without earthworm presence (Dendrobaena veneta), upon the loss of contaminants were determined for EPH (GC-FID) and PAH (GC-MS), respectively. Increasing the ratio of compost substrate to hydrocarbon impacted soil (1:0.5, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 (soil:compost wt/wt)) in the absence of earthworms resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) greater losses of both EPH and SigmaPAH after an 84 d incubation period, when compared to the soil only control. Where earthworms were present without compost, EPH losses were significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced in the soil only treatment (33.4+/-5.3% residual) compared to the soil only control (54.4+/-5.3% residual). However, PAH loss in the soil only treatment (with-earthworm presence) were only slightly enhanced (65.3+/-9.3% residual), with respect to the soil only control (69.2+/-6.4% residual). Synergistic benefits of both earthworm and compost presence were most significant for PAHs (p < 0.05), and less so for EPH. 14C-respirometer studies, to establish catabolic competence in terms of microbial mineralisation of key hydrocarbons, complemented the hydrocarbon analysis.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Zachary A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Hickman
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005742:Gasoline; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005742:Gasoline; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants