Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of the Heavy Metals Cu, Ni, Cd and Zn on the Growth and Reproduction of Epigeic Earthworms (E. fetida) during the Vermistabilization of Municipal Sewage Sludge

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to enhance the removal of heavy metals such as Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd from wastewater, different cow dung/sewage sludge ratios were tested to assess the effect of these metals on the adaptability of Eisenia fetida earthworms to the treatment process carried out in a typical plant located in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Two experimental water treatment setups were proposed. The first set of experiments was planned to determine the adequate sewage sludge/cow dung ratio(s), whereas the second arrangement was designed to evaluate the growth performance and fecundity of the earthworms under high heavy metal concentrations. To achieve the objectives, the experiments were conducted for 90 days under controlled environmental conditions. Maximum worm biomass and growth rates were attained in samples containing 25 wt.% of sewage sludge. Weight and mortality of worms were significantly affected by the high levels of heavy metals, making difficult the metal accumulation in the worm tissues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barrera, I., Andres, P., & Alcañiz, J. M. (2001). Sewage sludge application on soil: Effects on two earthworm species. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 129, 319–332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bettiol, W. (2004). Effect of sewage sludge on the incidence of corn stalk rot caused by Fusarium. Summa Phytopathologica, 30, 16–22.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beyer, W. N., Chaney, R. L., & Mulhern, B. N. (1982). Heavy metal concentration in earthworms from soil amended sewage sludge. Journal of Environmental Quality, 11, 381–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouwman, H. (2007). Modifications to a defined medium for the study of the biology and toxicology of the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta). Applied Soil Ecology, 35, 566–581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, X. D., Chen, Y., Wang, X. R., & Deng, X. H. (2001). Effects of redox potential and pH value on the release of rare earth elements from soil. Chemosphere, 44, 655–661.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Contreras, S. M., Escamilla, E. M., & Dendooven, L. (2005). Vermicomposting of biosolids with cow manure and oat straw. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 41, 190–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai, J., Becquer, T., Rouiller, J. H., Reversat, G., Reversat, B. F., Nahmani, J., et al. (2004). Heavy metal accumulation by two earthworm species and its relationship to total and DTPA-extractable metals in soils. Soil Biology & Biochemistry., 36, 91–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel, O., Bieri, L., & Kohli, M. (1996). Weight-gain and weight-loss of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L at different temperatures and body weights. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 28, 1235–1240.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elvira, C., Sampedro, L., Benitez, E., & Nogales, R. (1998). Vermicomposting of sludges from paper mill and dairy industries with Eisenia andrei: a pilot scale study. Bioresource Technology, 63, 205–211.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EPA. (1996). Method 3052: Microwave assisted acid digestion of siliceous and organically based matrices (pp. 1–28). Washington, DC: EPA.

    Google Scholar 

  • EPA. (1998). Method 3052: Microwave assisted acid digestion of sediments, sludge, soils, and oils (pp. 1–35). Washington, DC: EPA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunadi, B., & Edwards, C. A. (2003). The effect of multiple applications of different organic wastes on the growth, fecundity and survival of Eisenia fetida (Savigny) (Lumbricidae). Pedobiologia, 47, 321–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haimi, J., Hutha, V. (1986) Capacity of various organic residues to support adequate earthworm biomass in vermicomposting. Biology and Fertility of Soil, 2, 23–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaushik, P., & Garg, V. K. (2004). Dynamics of biological and chemical parameters during vermicomposting of solid textile mill sludge mixed with cow dung and agricultural residues. Bioresource Technology, 94, 203–209.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kocik, A., Trucha, M., & Rozen, A. (2007). Application of willows (Salix viminalis) and earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in sewage sludge treatment European. Journal of Soil Biology, 43, S327–S331.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lian Zhen, L., Dong Mei, Z., Wang, P., & Xiao San, L. (2008). Subcellular distribution of Cd and Pb in earthworm Eisenia fetida as affected by Ca2+ ions and Cd–Pb interaction. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 71, 632–637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lingxiangyu, L., Zhenlan, X., Jianyang, W., & Guangming, T. (2010). Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the earthworm Eisenia fetida in relation to bioavailable metal concentrations in pig manure. Bioresource Technology, 101, 3430–3436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lock, K., & Janssen, C. R. (2001). Zinc and cadmium body burden in terrestrial oligochaetes: use and significance in Environmental Risk Assessment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 20, 2067–2072.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lukkari, T., Taavitsainen, M., Vaisanen, A., & Haimi, J. (2004). Effects of heavy metals on earthworms along contamination gradients in organic rich soils. Ecotoxicology Environmental Safety, 59, 340–348.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lukkari, T., Aatsinki, M., Väisänen, A., & Haimi, J. (2005). Toxicity of Copper and Zinc assessed with three different earthworm tests. Applied Soil Ecology, 30, 133–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manna, M. C., Jha, S., Ghosh, P. K., & Acharya, C. L. (2003). Comparative efficacy of three epigeic earthworms under different deciduous forest litters decomposition. Bioresource Technology, 88, 197–206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, J. E., & Morgan, A. J. (1999). The accumulation of metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Ca) by two ecologically contrasting earthworm species (Lumbricus rubellus and Aporrectodea caliginosa): implications for ecotoxicological testing. Applied Soil Ecology, 13, 9–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, A. J., & Morris, B. (1982). The accumulation and intracellular compartementation of cadmium, lead, zinc and calcium in two earthworm species (Dendrobaena rubida and Lumbricus rubellus) living in highly contaminated soil. Histochemistry, 75, 269–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ndegwa, P. M., & Thompson, S. A. (2000). Effects of stocking density and feeding rate onvermicomposting of biosolids. Bioresource Technology, 71, 5–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neuhauser, E. F., Hartenstein, R., & Kaplan, D. L. (1980). Growth of the earthworm Eisenia foetida in relation to population density and food rationing. Oikos, 3, 93–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olugbenga, J. O., Reinecke, J. A., & Rozanov, B. A. (2008). Effects of salinity on partitioning, uptake and toxicity of zinc in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 40, 2385–2393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olugbenga, J. O., Reinecke, J. A., & Rozanov, B. A. (2009). The combined stress effects of salinity and copper on the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Applied Soil Ecology, 41, 277–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oropeza, G. N. (2006). Lodos residuales: estabilización y manejo. Revista Caos Conciencia, 1, 51–58 (in Spanish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Presley, M. L., Diehl, T. C., & McElroy, W. J. (1996). Soil-moisture and temperature interact to affect growth, survivorship, fecundity, and fitness in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A, 114, 319–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prinsloo, M. W., Reinecke, S. A., Przybylowicz, W. J., Przybylowicz, Mesjasz, J., & Reinecke, A. J. (1999). Micro-PIXE studies of Cd distribution in the nephridia of the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta). Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B, 58, 317–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinecke, A. J., & Kriel, J. R. (1981). Influence of temperature on the reproduction of the earthworm E. foetida (Oligochaeta). South African Journal of Zoology, 16, 96–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinecke, A. J., & Venter, J. M. (1987). Moisture preferences, growth and reproduction of the compost worm E. fetida (Oligochaeta). Biology and Fertility of Soils, 3, 135–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rıdvan, K. (2010). The role of different organic wastes on zinc bioaccumulation by earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. (Oligochaeta) in successive Zn added soil. Ecological Engineering, 25, 322–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sangwan, P., Kaushik, C. P., & Garg, V. K. (2008a). Feasibility of utilization of horse dung spiked filter cake in vermicomposters using exotic earthworm E. fetida. Bioresource Technology, 99, 2442–2448.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sangwan, P., Kaushik, C. P., & Garg, V. K. (2008b). Vermiconversion of industrial sludge for recycling the nutrients. Bioresource Technology, 99, 8699–8704.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shan, X. Q., Lian, J., & Wen, B. (2002). Effect of organic acids on adsorption and desorption of rare earth elements. Chemosphere, 47, 701–710.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spurgeon, D. J., & Hopkin, S. P. (1999). Comparisons of metal accumulation and excretion kinetics in earthworm (E. fetida) exposed to contaminated field and laboratory soils. Applied Soil Ecology, 11, 227–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suthar, S. (2007). Changes and biodynamics of epigeic earthworm Perionyx excavatus (Perrier) during recycling of some agriculture wastes. Bioresource Technology, 98, 1608–1614.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suthar, S. (2009). Vermistabilization of municipal sewage sludge amended with sugarcane trash using epigeic E. fetida (Oligochaeta). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 163, 199–206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uribe, L., Arauz, L. F., Mata, M., Meneses, G., & Castro, L. (2009). Efecto del vermicompostaje sobre las poblaciones de Colletotrichum acutatum y Pectobacterium carotovorum presentes en residuos de plantas. Agronomía Costarricense, 33, 91–101 (in Spanish).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study has been financially supported by CONACYT (project numbers 61354 and 90635) and the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (project numbers SIP-2010-0087, 2010-0062) and SNI-CONACYT. The authors would like to thank Elvira Castellanos for her technical support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Politecnico Nacional, CICATA-Altamira, Km 14.5, Carretera Tampico-Puerto Industrial Altamira, 89600, Altamira, Tamps, Mexico

    Miguel A. Domínguez-Crespo, Z. Erika Sánchez-Hernández, Aidé M. Torres-Huerta & Abelardo Flores-Vela

  2. Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Tecnologico de Celaya, Av. Tecnologico y García Cubas s/n, 38010, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico

    Ma. de la Luz X. Negrete-Rodríguez & Eloy Conde-Barajas

Authors
  1. Miguel A. Domínguez-Crespo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z. Erika Sánchez-Hernández
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aidé M. Torres-Huerta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ma. de la Luz X. Negrete-Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Eloy Conde-Barajas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Abelardo Flores-Vela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miguel A. Domínguez-Crespo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Domínguez-Crespo, M.A., Sánchez-Hernández, Z.E., Torres-Huerta, A.M. et al. Effect of the Heavy Metals Cu, Ni, Cd and Zn on the Growth and Reproduction of Epigeic Earthworms (E. fetida) during the Vermistabilization of Municipal Sewage Sludge. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 915–931 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0913-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0913-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation