Abstract
Purpose
Determine the multiple responses of earthworm biomarkers to antimony persistent exposure in soil.
Methods
Under antimony treatment levels (exogenous nominal contents) of 15, 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg, the biological health status of earthworm Eisenia andrei after 14, 21, and 28 days of exposure was evaluated via the response of soluble protein, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), metallothionein (MT), and their driven Biomarker Response Index (BRI).
Results
Overall, the protein contents decreased by 11.50 ~ 45.67%, the contents of MDA and MT augmented by 16.22 ~ 241.18% and 6.18 ~ 117.93%, and the activities of SOD, CAT, and POD increased by 38.99 ~ 536.36%, 27.65 ~ 105.99%, and 4.91 ~ 90.49%. The results of BRI indicated that antimony contents above 60 mg/kg always caused a severe alteration on earthworm health status.
Conclusion
The exponential relationship between BRI and antimony content ([BRI] = 1 + 3·e−0.0152·c) theoretically suggested a severe alteration when the content exceeded 45.54 mg/kg after 28 days of exposure. This study provides biological toxicity-based evidence for assessment of soil antimony.
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This study was funded by Shanghai Science and Technology Development Foundation (033919457).
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Thank earthworms for their sacrifice. All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.
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Yang, Z., Xu, Z., Shu, W. et al. Evaluation of soil antimony stress on the biological health status of earthworm Eisenia andrei using Biomarker Response Index. J Soils Sediments 22, 1999–2008 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03153-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03153-8