Genotoxic and reproductive effects of an industrially contaminated soil on the earthworm Eisenia Fetida

Abstract

Polluted soil sampled from a former coking plant in Lorraine (France) was studied for its genotoxicity and reproductive effects on the Eisenia fetida earthworm. Genotoxicity was investigated by means of the single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay on the coelomocytes of earthworms after 4 and 10 days of exposure to the soil. DNA damage and a decline in the number of coelomocytes extruded from earthworms were observed at coking plant soil concentrations of 20 and 40% (w/w) in ISO soil. These soil concentrations had previously been shown to significantly reduce cocoon and juvenile productions after 28 and 56 days of earthworm exposure, respectively. The results showed that genotoxic pollutants in the tested soil were still bioavailable despite the age of the contaminated soil. Similar values of the no-observedeffect concentration (NOEC) corresponding to 10% of the contaminated soil and of the lowest soil concentration tested inducing effects (LOEC) corresponding to 20% of the contaminated soil were obtained from reproductive and genotoxicity endpoints. Among the soil pollutants measured, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) appeared to be the most likely source of the genotoxicity recorded, although effects of metals could not be excluded. Measurement of genotoxicity in earthworms could complement the existing standardized tests used in the ecotoxicological assessment of the risk associated with contaminated soils. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 50:60-67, 2009.

Oxidative and genotoxic effects of 900MHz electromagnetic fields in the earthworm Eisenia fetida

“…Values of the DNA damage measured in this study by the Comet assay in the coelomocytes of control earthworms are in high concordance with the data obtained previously for coelomocytes of E. fetida (Bonnard et al, 2009;Hu et al, 2010;Klobučar et al, 2011;Li et al, 2009) which confirms the validity of the applied Comet assay protocol. Moreover, Comet assay data reported for E. fetida exposed to genotoxicants in Klobučar et al (2011) were obtained using the same protocol as here and response to genotoxicants was in the similar order of magnitude as response to RF-EMF, thus affirming relevance of obtained results.…”

Oxidative stress and DNA damage in the earthworm Eisenia fetida induced by toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene

“…Because of its sensitivity for detecting DNA single strain breaks (SSBs) and alkali-sensitive sites damage at very low levels and the relative ease of application, the SCGE assay has been used to evaluate various physical and chemical genotoxic agents in a wide variety of eukaryotic cells (Tice et al 2000;Dhawan et al 2009). Coelomocytes located around the intestinal tract of earthworms, are particularly exposed to soil pollutants and are involved in the process of cell immunity (Bonnard et al 2009). The SCGE assay employing coelomocytes from earthworms (Eisenia fetida) has been proved to be a useful tool to detect genotoxic agents in contaminated soils (Verschaeve and Gilles 1995;Salagovic et al 1996;Reinecke and Reinecke 2004;Xiao et al 2006;Song et al 2009).…”

Genotoxic endpoints in the earthworms sub-lethal assay to evaluate natural soils contaminated by metals and radionuclides

“…Standard toxicity tests evaluate parameters such as mortality, growth and reproduction, which may lead to the underestimation of risks posed by the exposure to compounds with both, chemical and radiological activity. Since effects at a molecular and cellular level may also occur, without being immediately translated in effects at the individual level, molecular biomarkers can be complementary approach providing information about organism's stress response to toxicants and mixtures [12]. The use of biomarkers is becoming increasingly important in the evaluation of the effects of contaminants in earthworms, promoting the discussion on the need to develop new biomarkers for these organisms, to supplement the evaluation of responses in standard toxicity tests [3,13].…”