Toxicological analysis of soils poured with sewage sludges using worms and plants

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Published 04-12-2020
Erik Urionabarrenetxea
Nerea Garcia-Velasco
Patxi Beraza Marta Sánchez Urtzi Izagirre
Beñat Zaldibar
Manu Soto

Abstract

Increasing global population, along with a rising industrial activity and soil scarceness led to landfill, spill and filling point extension. Among this landfills, “Landfill 17” can be found with 48046-00181 code; located in Gernika-Lumo (43°19'28,9"N 2°40'30,9"W, Basque Country). There, sewage sludges coming from Gernika waste water treatment plant were poured with a hose with agricultural purposes; thus, many pollutants with industrial origin (heavy metals, PAHs and pesticides among others) ended up in the mentioned soils. Among the species mostly affected by the contamination, plants and earthworms must be highlighted due to their close relation with soil matrix; and therefore, soil pollution. In this context, the aim of this work is to evaluate the effects exerted by pollutants in the spilling in order to assess potential Landfill future uses; using for that widely known biomarkers and standardized tests in different organisms (lettuce and earthworms), exposure times (3, 7, 28 and 56 days) and complexity levels (from cellular level to populational level) for that. Indeed, OECD-204 (acute toxicity test), OECD-222 (reproduction test) and calcein AM tests were applied in Eisenia fetida earthworms; while, germination and elongation tests were applied on Lactuca sativa plants. After carrying out ecotoxicological assays, significant differences respect to the control were observed in: extruded coelomocyte quantity, cell viability, tissue metal accumulations, growth (weight loss) parameters or reproductive parameters; proving pollutants affection upon soil biota. However, no significant differences were observed between experimental groups in those tests carried out with L. sativa.
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Keywords

sludge, heavy metals, ecotoxicology, Eisenia fetida, Lactuca sativa, biomarkers, standard toxicity tests

Section
Ale Arrunta