Sterilization affects soil organic matter chemistry and bioaccumulation of spiked p,p'-DDE and anthracene by earthworms.
Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the effects of soil sterilization on the bioavailability of spiked p,p'-DDE and anthracene to the earthworms Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris. Physical and chemical changes to soil organic matter (SOM) induced by sterilization were also studied. Uptake of both compounds added after soil was autoclaved or gamma irradiated increased for E. fetida. Sterilization had no effect on bioaccumulation of p,p'-DDE by L. terrestris, and anthracene uptake increased only in gamma-irradiated soils. Analyses by FT-IR and DSC indicate sterilization alters SOM chemistry and may reduce pollutant sorption. Chemical changes to SOM were tentatively linked to changes in bioaccumulation, although the effects were compound and species specific. Artifacts produced by sterilization could lead to inaccurate risk assessments of contaminated sites if assumptions derived from studies carried out in sterilized soil are used. Ultimately, knowledge of SOM chemistry could aid predictions of bioaccumulation of organic pollutants.
Program in Environmental Science and Department of Chemistry, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104, USA. kelsey@muhlenberg.edu
Jason W
JW
Kelsey
Ilya B
IB
Slizovskiy
Richard D
RD
Peters
Adam M
AM
Melnick
D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods
D000873:Anthracenes; D006812:Humic Substances; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; C034020:anthracene