Assessing ecotoxicity and uptake of metals and metalloids in relation to two different earthworm species (Eiseina hortensis and Lumbricus terrestris)

Thibaut Leveque (1, 2) , Yvan Capowiez (3) , Eva Schreck (4) , Christophe Mazzia (5, 6) , Melanie Auffan (7) , Yann Foucault (2, 8) , Annabelle Austruy (2) , Camille Dumat (9)

1 ENSAT - École nationale supérieure agronomique de Toulouse
2 LEFE - Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement
3 PSH - Unité de recherche Plantes et Systèmes de Culture Horticoles
4 GET - Géosciences Environnement Toulouse
5 IMBE - Institut méditerranéen de biodiversité et d'écologie marine et continentale
6 AE - Abeilles et Environnement
7 CEREGE - Centre européen de recherche et d'enseignement des géosciences de l'environnement
8 STCM - Société de Traitements Chimiques des Métaux
9 CERTOP - Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir

Due to diffuse atmospheric fallouts of process particles enriched by metals and metalloids, polluted soils concern large areas at the global scale. Useful tools to assess ecotoxicity induced by these polluted soils are therefore needed. Earthworms are currently used as biotest, however the influence of specie and earthworm behaviour, soil characteristics are poorly highlighted. Our aim was therefore to assess the toxicity of various polluted soils with process particles enriches by metals and metalloids (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, As and Sb) collected from a lead recycling facility on two earthworm species belonging to different ecological types and thus likely to have contrasted behavioural responses (Eiseina hortensis and Lum-bricus terrestris). The combination of behavioural factors measurements (cast production and biomass) and physico-chemical parameters such as metal absorption, bioaccumulation by earthworms and their localization in invertebrate tissues provided a valuable indication of pollutant bioavailability and ecotoxicity. Soil characteristics influenced ecotoxicity and metal uptake by earthworms, as well as their soil bioturbation.

Mots clés: lombrics; oligo-élément inorganique; écotoxicité; propriétés du sol

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement

Thibaut Leveque, Yvan Capowiez, Eva Schreck, Christophe Mazzia, Melanie Auffan, et al.. Assessing ecotoxicity and uptake of metals and metalloids in relation to two different earthworm species (Eiseina hortensis and Lumbricus terrestris). Environmental Pollution, 2013, 179, pp.232-241. ⟨10.1016/j.envpol.2013.03.066⟩. ⟨hal-01326829⟩