Methods using earthworms for the evaluation of potentially toxic materials in soils
The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using earthworms to indicate effects of potentially toxic wastes when such wastes are intentionally or accidentally added to soils. Initial work with metals has shown that earthworms exhibit specific growth and reproductive responses. These responses are related to the concentration and solubility of the metal. Of the metals tested, cadmium was found to be the most toxic, followed by nickel, copper, zinc, and lead. The metal concentration in earthworm tissue and the background manure-metal mixture was measured, permitting the concentration factor to be computed. The concentration factor is the ratio of the metal in the worm tissue to that in the surrounding manure-metal mixture. These and other studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that the methods described in this paper may be used to predict the effect of land-applied or atmospherically deposited residues on the soil biota.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
- OSTI ID:
- 6464313
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-820132-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ.; (United States), Vol. STP-805; Conference: ASTM D-34 meeting, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Jan 1982
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
NEMATODES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
SOILS
LAND POLLUTION
TOXIC MATERIALS
CADMIUM
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COPPER
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
LEAD
MANURES
NICKEL
SOIL CHEMISTRY
TOXICITY
ZINC
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ASCHELMINTHES
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
HELMINTHS
MATERIALS
METALS
ORGANIC WASTES
POLLUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
320305* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)