title: Toxicological responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida to 18-crown-6 under laboratory conditions.
abstract: The earthworm Eisenia fetida was exposed to artificial soil supplemented with 18-crown-6 (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane) to investigate its effects on earthworm mortality, growth, avoidance, burrowing behavior and respiration. The results revealed that 18-crown-6 had the potential to negatively affect the behavior of earthworms. The 7-d LC50 was 585 mg kg(-1) soil. Avoidance behavior was the most sensitive endpoint, with a 48-h EC50 of 120 mg kg(-1) soil. Growth, burrow length and respiration showed general decreases with increasing 18-crown-6 concentrations. Behavioral endpoints and respiration may be regarded as sensitive parameters in evaluating the toxicity of this chemical to earthworms.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Longteng Rd. 333, Songjiang District, Shanghai, 201620, China.
authors.forename: Yongtao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Pinhua
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Yinsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiangping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Murray A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Potter
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D043844:Crown Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D043844:Crown Ethers; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C015762:18-crown-6