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7310507 
Journal Article 
Ecotoxicity of siloxane D5 in soil 
Velicogna, J; Ritchie, E; Princz, J; Lessard, ME; Scroggins, R 
2012 
Yes 
Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 
87 
1 
77-83 
English 
22197313 
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a cyclic volatile methyl siloxane (cVMS) commonly found in com-mercially available products. D5 is expected to enter the terrestrial environment through the deposit ofbiosolids from sewage treatment plants onto agricultural fields for nutrient enrichment. Little to no infor-mation currently exists as to the risks of D5 to the terrestrial environment. In order to evaluate the poten-tial risk to terrestrial organisms, the toxicity of a D5 contaminated biosolid in an agricultural soil wasassessed with a battery of standardized soil toxicity tests.D5 was spiked into a surrogate biosolid and then mixed with a sandy loam soil to create test concen-trations ranging from 0 to 4074 mg kg1. Plant (Hordeum vulgare(barley) andTrifolium pratense(red clo-ver)) and soil invertebrates (Eisenia andrei(earthworm) andFolsomia candida(springtail)) toxicity testswere completed to assess for lethal and sub-lethal effects. Plant testing evaluated the effects on seedlingemergence, shoot and root length, and shoot and root dry mass. Invertebrate test endpoints includedadult lethality, juvenile production, and individual juvenile dry mass (earthworms only). Soil sampleswere collected over time to confirm test concentrations and evaluate the loss of chemical over the dura-tion of a test. The toxicity of the D5 was species and endpoint dependent, such that no significant adverseeffects were observed forT. pratenseorE. andreitest endpoints, however, toxicity was observed forH. vulgareplant growth andF. candidasurvival and reproduction. Chemical losses of up to 50% wereobserved throughout the tests, most significantly at high concentrations. 
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, Siloxane, Soil toxicology, Biosolid, Plant toxicity, Invertebrate toxicity