title: Effects of glyphosate and 2,4-D on earthworms (Eisenia foetida) in laboratory tests.
abstract: Laboratory tests were conducted to compare the effects of various concentrations of glyphosate and 2,4-D on earthworms (Eisenia foetida) cultured in Argissol during 56 days of incubation. The effects on earthworm growth, survival, and reproduction rates were verified for different exposure times. Earthworms kept in glyphosate-treated soil were classified as alive in all evaluations, but showed gradual and significant reduction in mean weight (50%) at all test concentrations. For 2,4-D, 100% mortality was observed in soil treated with 500 and 1,000 mg/kg. At 14 days, 30%-40% mortality levels were observed in all other concentrations. No cocoons or juveniles were found in soil treated with either herbicide. Glyphosate and 2,4-D demonstrated severe effects on the development and reproduction of Eisenia foetida in laboratory tests in the range of test concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Center for Studies on Workers' Health and Human Ecology, FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21041-210, Brazil. fabioverissimobr@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000187:drug effects; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D000097797:Glyphosate
chemical_list: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D005998:Glycine; D006540:Herbicides; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D000097797:Glyphosate