title: Habitat type-based bioaccumulation and risk assessment of metal and As contamination in earthworms, beetles and woodlice.
abstract: The present study investigated the contribution of environmental factors to the accumulation of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in earthworms, beetles and woodlice, and framed within an exposure assessment of the European hedgehog. Soil and invertebrate samples were collected in three distinct habitat types. Results showed habitat-specific differences in soil and invertebrate metal concentrations and bioaccumulation factors when normalized to soil metal concentration. Further multiple regression analysis showed residual variability (habitat differences) in bioaccumulation that could not be fully explained by differences in soil metal contamination, pH or organic carbon (OC). Therefore, the study demonstrated that in bioaccumulation studies involving terrestrial invertebrates or in risk assessment of metals, it is not sufficient to differentiate habitat types on general soil characteristics such as pH and/or OC alone. Furthermore, simple generic soil risk assessments for Cd and Cu showed that risk characterization was more accurate when performed in a habitat-specific way.
authors.affiliation: Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology Group (U7), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. frouke.vermeulen@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Frouke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: Nico W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Van den Brink
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: D'Havé
authors.forename: Valentine K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Mubiana
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blust
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bervoets
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Coen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D033321:Isopoda / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D001151:Arsenic