Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
1349024 
Journal Article 
Survival and behaviour of the earthworms Lumbricus rubellus and Dendrodrilus rubidus from arsenate-contaminated and non-contaminated sites 
Langdon, CJ; Piearce, TG; Meharg, AA; Semple, KT 
2001 
1 
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
ISSN: 0038-0717
EISSN: 1879-3428 
33 
9 
1239-1244 
WOS:000169971300012 
Two arsenic- and heavy metal-contaminated mine-spoil sites,
at Carrock Fell, Cumbria and Devon Great Consols Mine, Devon, were found to support populations
of the earthworms Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister and Dendrodrilus rubidus (Savigny). L. rubellus
and D. rubidus collected from the Devon site and an uncontaminated site were kept for 28 days in
uncontaminated soil and in soil containing sodium arsenate (494 mg As kg(-1)). The state of the
specimens was recorded every 7 days using a semi-quantitative assessment of earthworm health
(condition index, C.I.). The C.I. remained high for all specimens except those of L. rubellus and
D. rubidus from uncontaminated sites, which displayed 60 and 10% mortality, respectively. L.
rubellus collected from the Carrock Fell site? and L. rubellus and D. rubidus from an
uncontaminated site, burrowed as rapidly into soil containing up to 1235 mg As kg(-1) in the form
of sodium arsenate as into uncontaminated soil when placed on the soil surface. When earthworms
were allowed a choice between uncontaminated soil and soil contaminated with sodium arsenate in
concentrations of up to 1235 mg As kg-l, the threshold concentration for avoidance of
contaminated soil was lower for L. rubellus and D, rubidus from uncontaminated soil than for
specimens from contaminated soil. There was no significant effect of pH on soil discrimination.
The LC50 concentration of As for L. rubellus from Devon Great Censors was significantly higher (P
< 0.001) than for L. rubellus from the uncontaminated site: 1510 and 96 mg As kg(-1),
respectively. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 
arsenic-sensitivity; earthworm; soil contamination; metal contaminants; toxicity testing