Accumulation of methylmercury in the earthworm,Eisenia foetida, and its effect on regeneration

Mercury Hazards from Gold Mining to Humans, Plants, and Animals

“…Methylmercury compounds at concentrations of 25.0 mg Hg/kg soil were fatal to all tiger worms (Eisenia foetida) in 12 wk; at 5.0 mg/kg, however, only 21% died in a similar period (Beyer et al 1985). Inorganic mercury compounds were also toxic to earthworms (Octochaetus pattoni); in 60 d, 50% died at soil mercury levels of 0.79 mg/kg, and all died at 5.0 mg/kg (Abbasi and Soni 1983).…”

“…Earthworms (Eisenia foetida) exposed to soil containing 5.0 mg Hg/kg showed a significant reduction in the number of segments regenerated after 12 wk, and contained 85 mg Hg/kg FW (whole body). Regeneration was normal at soil mercury levels of 1.0 mg/kg, although body burdens up to 27 mg/kg were recorded with potential damage effects to earthworm predators (Beyer et al 1985). Studies with a different species of earthworm (Octochaetus pattoni) and mercuric chloride demonstrated a progressive initial increase in reproduction as soil mercury levels increased from 0.0 to the 60-d lethal level of 5.0 mg/kg (Abbasi and Soni 1983).…”

Mercury Exposure in Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Admitted for Rehabilitation in Iowa, USA

“…Methylmercury compounds at concentrations of 25.0 mg Hg/kg in soil were fatal to all tiger worms (Eisenia foetida) in 12 weeks; at 5.0 mg/kg, however, only 21% died in a similar period (Beyer et al 1985). Inorganic mercury compounds were also toxic to earthworms (Octochaetus pattoni); in 60 days, 50% died at soil Hg levels of 0.79 mg/kg, and all died at 5.0 mg/kg (Abbasi and Soni 1983).…”

“…Regeneration was normal at soil Hg levels of 1.0 mg/kg, although body burdens up to 27 mg/kg were recorded. It was concluded that soil contaminated with methylmercury posed a greater hazard to the predators of earthworms than to the earthworms (Beyer et al 1985). Studies with a different species of earthworm (Octochaetus pattoni) and mercuric chloride, demonstrated a progressive initial increase in reproduction as soil mercury levels increased from 0.0 to the 60-day lethal level of 5.0 mg/kg (Abbasi and Soni 1983).…”

Effects of metals on earthworm life cycles: a review

“…Most of such studies focused on the accumulation of Cd (Morgan and Morgan 1990, Cu Langdon et al 2001;Kennette et al 2002), Zn (Morgan and Morgan 1990Kennette et al 2002), Pb Morgan 1991, 1993;Kennette et al 2002), Ni (Hartenstein et al 1980), Hg (Beyer et al 1985) and…”