Heavy metal concentrations in earthworms from soil amended with sewage slude

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1982.00472425001100030012x· OSTI ID:5822757

Beyer, W N ^[1]; Chaney, R L; Mulhern, B M

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1. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, MD

Metal concentrations in soil may be elevated considerably when metal-laden sewage sludge is spread on land. Metals in earthworms (Lumbricidae) from agicultural fields amended with sewage sludge and from experimental plots were examined to determine if earthworms are important in transferring metals in soil to wildlife. Earthworms from four sites amended with sludge contained significantly (P<0.05) more Cd (12 times), Cu (2.4 times), Zn (2.0 times), and Pb (1.2 times) than did earthworms from control sites, but the concentrations detected varied greatly and depended on the particular sludge application. Generally, Cd and Zn were concentrated by earthworms relative to soil, and Cu, Pb, and Ni were not concentrated. Concentrations of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb in earthworms were correlated (P<0.05) with those in soil. The ratio of the concentration of metals in earthworms to the concentration of metals in soil tended to be lower in contaminated soil than in clean soil. Concentrations of Cd as high as 100 ppm (dry wt) were detected in earthworms from soil containing only 2 ppm Cd. These concentrations are considered hazardous to wildlife that eat worms. Liming soil decreased Cd concentrations in earthworms slightly (P<0.05) but had no discernible effect on concentrations of the other metals studied. High Zn concentrations in soil substantially reduced Cd concentrations in earthworms.

• OSTI ID: 5822757
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 11:3; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560304 -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology-- Invertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
ANNELIDS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CADMIUM
COPPER
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
GROUND DISPOSAL
INVERTEBRATES
LAND POLLUTION
LEAD
MANAGEMENT
METALS
NICKEL
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
QUANTITY RATIO
RECYCLING
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SOIL CONSERVATION
SOILS
TENSORS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VECTORS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
ZINC