SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP33554S

Methods Using Earthworms for the Evaluation of Potentially Toxic Materials in Soils

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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.

Author Information

Neuhauser, EF
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Malecki, MR
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Loehr, RC
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
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Developed by Committee: D34
Pages: 313–320
DOI: 10.1520/STP33554S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4872-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0246-0