Toxicity Assessment of Contaminated Soil Using Seeds as Bioindicators

Abstract

The evaluation soil quality after bioremediation processes solely on chemical data does not include the effects of toxic substances in organisms. Thus, ecotoxicological assays with seeds are applied to assess the effect of toxic substances in organisms according to their germination sensitivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate a contaminated soil with diesel, biodiesel and waste lubricat oil in ecotoxicological bioassays using seeds of Cucumis sativus (cucumber), Brassica oleracea (kale) and Barbarea verna (cress) as test organisms. The sample of contaminated soil was buried to allow contact with microorganisms that are naturally present in the soil and can be capable to biodegrade the contaminant. Each soil sample was removed monthly and the potential toxicity of contaminants was evaluated by examining germination rates according to biodegradation time in soil. The results indicate that the species Barbarea verna is not a good test organism due to its low germination rate. The study suggest that the contact of waste lubricant oil and diesel with the embryo was hampered by the seed coats and the hydrophobicity these substances, preventing the entry of substances which may be toxic to the embryo. Also, Cucumis sativus and Brassica oleracea showed that after two months of biodegradation, biodiesel is the most toxic contaminant during seed development.

Bioremediation of soil contaminated crude oil by Agaricomycetes

“…The plates were incubated at 22 °C for 7 days. The number of germinated seed was counted [ 15 , 16 ]. All the experiments were carried out in three replicates.…”

Method of ecological assessment of oil-contaminated soils

“…У праці Gorsuch et al (1995) оцінюється довжина коренів і довжина проростків молодих рослин; деякі дослідники аналізують схожість і довжину коренів проростків (Wang et al, 2000). У низці праць оцінюється тільки довжина коренів проростків (Michaud et al, 2008) або тільки схожість насіння (Cruz et al, 2013).…”

The Usage of Plant Test Systems for the Determination of Phytotoxicity of Contaminated with Petroleum Products Soil

“…In the autumn, winter and spring periods, the anti-ice treatment of air transport as well as removal of snow and ice deposits from the artificial surface of airfields is carried out. It uses active anti-ice preparations and reagents containing urea, ammonium nitrate, and surfactants that also infiltrate into the soil [Cruz, 2013. Compared to the atmosphere or water, soil is a less dynamic and more buffer system.…”