Biological assessment of contaminated shooting range soil using earthworm biomarkers

Abstract

The contamination in shooting range soils is widely know ecological problem around the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of contaminated shooting range soil on physiological and biochemical endpoints of Eisenia fetida . A shooting range located in Alytus, Lithuania was chosen as a object to assess the site–specific soil toxicity to earthworm E. fetida . The elevated concentrations of Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Zn in soil was found along with lower organic matter content and higher soil density, especially closer to the target line. Significant weight loss was observed in earthworms exposed to soil of the most contaminated shooting range site. Significantly higher concentrations of Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, Sb was determined in the tissues of adult worms from the very end of the shooting range. No juveniles were observed in the most contaminated soil, higher concentrations of Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn were found in the tissues of juveniles exposed to the contaminated soil of study sites were concentrations of lead were lower compared to the most contaminated site, but higher compared to control. Exposure to contaminated soil caused antioxidant system alterations and lipid peroxidation. It was observed a compensatory mechanism between the activities of GR and glutathione S-transferase (GST) under trace elements induced toxicity.