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Effects of Soil Organic Matter Content on Cadmium Toxicity in Eisenia Fetida: Implications for the Use of Biomarkers and Standard Toxicity Tests

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Abstract

Bioavailability is affected by soil physicochemical characteristics such as pH and organic matter (OM) content. In addition, OM constitutes the energy source of Eisenia fetida, a well established model species for soil toxicity assessment. The present work aimed at assessing the effects of changes in OM content on the toxicity of Cd in E. fetida through the measurement of neutral red uptake (NRU) and mortality, growth, and reproduction (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] Nos. 207 and 222). Complementarily, metallothionein (MT) and catalase transcription levels were measured. To decrease variability inherent to natural soils, artificial soils (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 1984) with different OM content (6, 10, and 14 %) and spiked with Cd solutions at increasing concentrations were used. Low OM in soil decreased soil ingestion and Cd bioaccumulation but also increased Cd toxicity causing lower NRU of coelomocytes, 100 % mortality, and stronger reproduction impairment, probably due to the lack of energy to maintain protection mechanisms (production of MT). Cd bioaccumulation did not reflect toxicity, and OM played a pivotal role in Cd toxicity. Thus, OM content should be taken into account when using E. fetida in in vivo exposures for soil health assessment.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Basque Government (ETORTEK IE10-273) and Grant to the Consolidated Research Group (GIC07/26-IT-393-07; IT-810-13) as well as the University of the Basque Country (Research and Formation Unit in Ecosystem Health Protection [UFI 11/37]). A. Irizar was the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Basque Government.

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  1. Cell Biology and Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology and Zoology and Animal Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48080, Bilbao, P.O. Box 644, Basque Country, Spain

    A. Irizar, M. P. Rodríguez, A. Izquierdo, I. Cancio, I. Marigómez & M. Soto

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  1. A. Irizar
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Irizar, A., Rodríguez, M.P., Izquierdo, A. et al. Effects of Soil Organic Matter Content on Cadmium Toxicity in Eisenia Fetida: Implications for the Use of Biomarkers and Standard Toxicity Tests. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 68, 181–192 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-014-0060-4

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