Skip to main content

Converting wasteland into wonderland by earthworms—a low-cost nature’s technology for soil remediation: a case study of vermiremediation of PAHs contaminated soil

The Environmentalist volume 28, pages 466–475 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Earthworms in general are tolerant to many chemical contaminants including heavy metals and organic pollutants in soil and can bio-accumulate them in their tissues. Earthworms species like Eisenia fetida, Eisenia tetraedra, Lumbricus terrestris, Lumbricus rubellus and Allobophora chlorotica have been found to remove heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Hg, etc.) pesticides and lipophilic organic micropollutants like the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the soil. They ‘absorb’ the dissolved chemicals through the moist ‘body wall’ in the interstitial water and also ‘ingest’ by mouth while the soil passes through the gut. They either ‘bio-transform’ or ‘biodegrade’ the chemical contaminants rendering them harmless in their bodies. Meanwhile the quality of the soil is improved significantly in terms of physical, chemical and biological properties as the worms thoroughly upturn and disperse the soil, ingest large volumes of soil and excrete nutritive materials (NKP and micronutrients) in the form of ‘vermicasts’ along with millions of beneficial soil microbes including nitrogen fixers.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Achazi RK, Fleener C, Livingstone DR, Peters LD, Schaub K, Schiwe E (1998) Cytochrome P 450 and dependent activity in unexposed and PAH-exposed terrestrial annelids. J Comp Biochem Physiol C 121:339–350

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belfroid A, Meiling J, Drenth HJ, Hermens J, Seinen W, Gestel KV (1995) Dietary uptake of superlipophilic compounds by earthworms (Eisenia andrei). Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 31:185–191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhawalkar V, Bhawalkar U (1994) Vermiculture biotechnology. Bhawalkar Earthworm Research Institute (BERI), Pune, India

    Google Scholar 

  • Binet F, Fayolle L, Pussard M (1998) Significance of earthworms in stimulating soil microbial activity. Biol Fertil Soils 27:79–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butt KR (1999) Inoculation of earthworms into reclaimed soils: the UK experience. J Land Degrad Dev 10:565–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaoui HI, Zibilske LM, Ohno T (2003) Effects of earthworms casts and compost on soil microbial activity and plant nutrient availability. Soil Biol Biochem 35(2):295–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Contreras-Ramos, Silvia M, Alvarez-Bernal, Dioselina & Dendooven Luc (2006) Eisenia fetida increased removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil. Environ Pollut 141:396–401; Elsevier Pub

  • Davis B (1971) Laboratory studies on the uptake of dieldrin and DDT by earthworms. Soil Biol Biochem 3:221–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edward CA, Lofty JR (1972) Biology of earthworms. Chapman and Hall, London, p 283

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards CA, Bohlen PJ (1996) Biology and ecology of earthworms, 3rd edn. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards CA, Fletcher KE (1988) Interaction between earthworms and microorganisms in organic matter breakdown. Agric Ecosyst Environ 24:235–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eijsackers H, Van Gestel CAM, De Jonge S, Muijis B, Slijkerman D (2001) PAH – polluted peat sediments and earthworms: a mutual inference. J Ecotoxicol 10:35–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerard BM (1960) The biology of certain British earthworms in relation to environmental conditions. Ph.D Thesis, University of London

  • Gunathilagraj K (1996) Earthworm: an introduction; Indian Council of Agricultural Research Training Program. Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore

  • Hartenstein R, Neuhauser EF, Collier J (1980) Accumulation of heavy metals in the earthworm E. foetida. J Environ Qual 9:23–26

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hand P (1988) Earthworm biotechnology. In: Greenshields R (ed) Resources and application of biotechnology: the new wave. MacMillan Press Ltd., USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Ireland MP (1979) Metal accumulation by the earthworms Lumbricus rubellus, Dendrobaena veneta and Eiseniella tetraedra living in heavy metal polluted sites. Environ Pollut 19:201–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ireland MP (1983) Heavy metals uptake in earthworms; earthworm ecology. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Jager T, Baerselman R, Dukeman E, De Groot AC, Hogendoorn EA, Jong AD, Kruitbosch J, Peijn W (2003) Availability of PAH to earthworms (Elsenia andrei) in field polluted soil and soil-sediment mixtures. J Environ Toxicol Chem 22(4):767–775

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnsen AR, Wick LY, Harms H (2005) Principles of microbial PAH degradation in soil. J Environ Pollut 133:71–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanaly RA, Harayama S (2000) Biodegradation of high molecular weight PAHs by bacteria. J Bacteriol 182:2059–2067

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma WC, Imerzeel J, Bodt J (1995) Earthworm and food interactions on bioaccumulation and disappearance of PAHs: studies on phenanthrene and flouranthene. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 32:226–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malley C, Nair J, Ho G (2006) Impact of heavy metals on enzymatic activity of substrate and on composting worms Eisenia fetida. J Bioresour Technol 97:1498–1502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Markman S, Guschina IA, Barnsleya S, Buchanan KL, Pascoe D, Muller CT (2007) Endocrine disrupting chemicals accumulate in earthworms exposed to sewage effluents; Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, U.K. J Chemosphere 70(1):119–125

  • Morgan M, Burrows I (1982) Earthworms/Microorganisms interactions; Rothamsted Exp. Stn. Rep.

  • OECD (2000) Guidelines for testing organic chemicals. Proposal for new guidelines: earthworms reproduction tests (E. fetida andrei); Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (www.oecd.org)

  • Parish ZD, White JC, Asleyan M, Gent MPN, Lannucci-Berger W, Eitzer BD, Kelsey JW, Mattina MI (2006) Accumulation of weathered PAHs by plant and earthworms species. J Chemosphere 64(4):609–618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan D (2006) Vermiremediation and other bioremediation options for PAHs contaminated soil; Project report submitted for the partial fulfillment of the degree of Bachelor of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Griffith University, Brisbane (Supervisor: Dr. Rajiv Sinha)

  • Safawat H, Hanna S, Weaver RW (2002) Earthworms survival in oil contaminated soil. J Plant Soil 240:127–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satchell JE (1983) Earthworm microbiology. In: Satchel JE (ed) Earthworm ecology—from Darwin to Vermiculture. Chapman and Hall Ltd., London, pp 351–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Sims RC, Overcash MR (1983) Fate of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs) in soil-plant systems. Residue Rev 88:2–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Singleton DR, Hendrix BF, Coleman DC, Whitemann WB (2003) Identification of uncultured bacteria tightly associated with the intestine of the earthworms Lumricus rubellus. Soil Biol Biochem 35:1547–1555

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha RK, Herat S, Agarwal S, Asadi R, Carretero E (2002) Vermiculture technology for environmental management: study of action of earthworms Elsinia foetida, Eudrilus euginae and Perionyx excavatus on biodegradation of some community wastes in India and Australia. The Environmentalist, U.K. 22(2):261–268.

  • Sinha RK, Sinha R (2007) Environmental biotechnology (Role of plants, animals and microbes in environmental management and sustainable development). Aavishkar Publisher, Jaipur, India; ISBN 978-81-7910-229-9; p 315

  • Tang J, Liste H, Alexander M (2002) Chemical assays of availability to earthworms of PAHs in soil. J Chemosphere 48:35–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visvanathan C, Traenklar J, Joseph K, Nagendran R (eds) (2005) Vermicomposting as an eco-tool in sustainable solid waste management; Project report of The Asian Regional Research Program on Environmental Technology (ARRPET); Pub. of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Anna University, India; p 36

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Prof. Bofo Yu (HOS of Environmental Engineering and former Director of CESR at Griffith University), Prof. Roger Braddock and Roger Cropp (past and present Directors of CESR), for providing the financial support to carry out the research program. We also thank Jane Giffkins and Michelle in the PC 2 lab for providing the laboratory support and Ehrsam Werner for providing space in the PC 2 lab. Gokul Bharambe deserves special credit for drawing the graphs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering (Environment), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4116, Australia

    Rajiv K. Sinha, Gokul Bharambe & David Ryan

Authors
  1. Rajiv K. Sinha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gokul Bharambe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David Ryan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajiv K. Sinha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sinha, R.K., Bharambe, G. & Ryan, D. Converting wasteland into wonderland by earthworms—a low-cost nature’s technology for soil remediation: a case study of vermiremediation of PAHs contaminated soil. Environmentalist 28, 466–475 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-008-9171-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-008-9171-7

Keywords

  • Vermiremediation technology using earthworms
  • Earthworms convert wasteland into wonderland
  • PAH—carcinogenic, mutagenic and immunodepressive chemical
  • Earthworms—a soil detoxifying agent
  • Earthworms bio-accumulate, biodegrade and bio-transform chemicals