Uptake of cadmium, zinc, lead, and copper by earthworms near a zinc-smelting complex: influence of soil pH and organic matter

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01610155· OSTI ID:5402707

Ma, W; Edelman, T; van Beersum, I; Jans, T

Soil samples were taken from 31 sites near Eindhoven, The Netherlands, mainly along transects of 1 to 15 km from the nearest zinc smelter. Earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) were taken from the upper 20 cm soil layer and analyzed from accumulation of Cd, Zn, Pb and Cu by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Cd, Zn, and Pb appeared to be more strongly accumulated by L. rubellus when present in soil with a low pH value. Cu was the only exception in this regard; its uptake by L. rubellus was not significantly influenced by soil pH. The organic matter content of the soil played a significant role only in the worm uptake of Pb. Soil Pb content, soil pH, and soil organic matter content together accounted for almost 70% of the variance in worm Pb content. The results indicate that L. rubellus accumulates Pb more strongly in soil with a low pH and low organic matter content than in soil with higher values of these parameters. The demonstrated influence of pH and organic matter content on element concentration in earthworms emphasizes the importance of soil factors in governing the entrance of toxic metal elements into the food web. (JMT)

• Research Organization: Research Inst. for Nature Management, Arnhem, The Netherlands
• OSTI ID: 5402707
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 30:4, Issue 1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
COPPER
LEAD
ZINC
ANNELIDS
ORGANIC MATTER
PH VALUE
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SMELTERS
SOILS
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
TABLES
UPTAKE
ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
560304* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)