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Ecotoxicological and Fertilizing Effects of Dewatered, Composted and Dry Sewage Sludge on Soil Mesofauna: A TME Experiment

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Abstract

The effects of dewatered, composted and dry urban sewage sludge on the soil mesofauna were tested in mesocosms. PVC containers were filled with soil/sludge mixtures in a proportion to amount to 6% organic matter content and were colonized with soil fauna coming from undisturbed forest soils. Mesocosms were incubated under laboratory conditions for 7, 30, 60, 120 and 180 days, after which fauna was extracted in Berlese funnels. The animals were classified at different taxonomic levels. Acari were classified to the suborder level for Astigmata, to the family level for Mesostigmata and Prostigmata and to the species level for Cryptostigmata. Acute- and medium-term effects were determined on the faunal density, relative abundance of the main taxa and community structure. Prostigmata were sensitive to the acute effect of the sludge, whereas Mesostigmata and particularly Cryptostigmata were sensitive to its medium-term effect. The most negative effects were found for dry sludge, which caused acute and medium-term effects on the invertebrate communities and on the soil trophic structure.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the ECOFANGS project of the CIRIT and the Environment Department of the Government of Catalonia. Heavy metals content in soil and sludge was furnished by the College of Agricultural Engineering of Barcelona (ESAB). Organic pollutants content in sludge was furnished by the Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS) of Barcelona.

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  1. CREAF (Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications). Edifici C, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    Pilar Andrés & Xavier Domene

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  1. Pilar Andrés
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  2. Xavier Domene
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Correspondence to Pilar Andrés.

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Andrés, P., Domene, X. Ecotoxicological and Fertilizing Effects of Dewatered, Composted and Dry Sewage Sludge on Soil Mesofauna: A TME Experiment. Ecotoxicology 14, 545–557 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-005-0006-8

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