Ecotoxicological Tools for Landfarming Soil Evaluation in a Petrochemical Complex Area

doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(14)60014-X

Pedosphere

Volume 24, Issue 2, April 2014, Pages 280-284

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(14)60014-X Get rights and content

Abstract

The demand for simple and rapid bioassays in ecotoxicological evaluations is of paramount importance in order to speed up environmental monitoring programs. In this study we performed bioassays with lettuce seeds and two species of terrestrial isopods (Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio dilatatus) for the ecotoxicological assessment of a landfarming soil from a petrochemical complex area. The solubilized content of test soil demonstrated a concentration-response type toxic effect on seed germination rate, and a delay on germination, but showed toxic effect on seedlings wet weight only at the highest concentration. Toxic effects were also observed in mortality rate and avoidance behavior of the two woodlice species. These results demonstrated the sensitiveness of the organisms studied, and highlighted the possibility to use these bioassays in environmental monitoring programs in areas contaminated with fossil fuels.

References (34)

F.M.R. Da Silva Júnior et al.
Extraction parameters in the mutagenicity assay of soil samples
Sci. Total Environ.
(2009)
J.W. Doran et al.
Soil health and sustainability: managing the biotic component of soil quality
Appl. Soil Ecol.
(2000)
I.C. Eom et al.
Ecotoxicity of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil
Ecotox. Environ. Safe.
(2007)
V. Geissen et al.
Using earthworms to test the efficiency of remediation of oil-polluted soil in tropical Mexico
Ecotox. Environ. Safe.
(2008)
J.-P. Godet et al.
Growth and metal accumulation in Porcellio scaber exposed to poplar litter from Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated sites
Ecotox. Environ. Safe.
(2011)
H. Hamdi et al.
Bioaugmentation and biostimulation effects on PAH dissipation and soil ecotoxicity under controlled conditions
Soil Biol. Biochem.
(2007)
H. Hamdi et al.
Effects of anthracene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene spiking and sewage sludge compost amendment on soil ecotoxicity during a bioremediation process
Chemosphere.
(2006)
P. Henner et al.
Phytotoxicity of ancient gaswork soils. Effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on plant germination
Org. Geochem.
(1999)
S. Jänsch et al.
Acute and chronic isopod testing using tropical Porcellionides pruinosus and three model pesticides
Eur. J. Soil. Biol.
(2005)
D.T. Jones et al.
Reduced survival and body size in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber from a metal-polluted environment
Environ. Pollut.
(1998)

C.J. Keddy et al.

Review of whole-organism bioassays: soil, freshwater sediment and freshwater assessment in Canada

Ecotox. Environ. Safe.

(1995)

L. Leitgib et al.

Comparison of bioassays by testing whole soil and their water extract from contaminated sites

Chemosphere.

(2007)

C. Lors et al.

Comparison of solid-phase bioassays and ecoscores to evaluate the toxicity of contaminated soils

Environ. Pollut.

(2010)

S. Loureiro et al.

Assessing joint toxicity of chemicals in Enchytraeus albidus (Enchytraeidae) and Porcellionides pruinosus (Isopoda) using avoidance behavior as an endpoint

Environ. Pollut.

(2009)

S. Loureiro et al.

Terrestrial avoidance behaviour tests as screening tool to assess soil contamination

Environ. Pollut.

(2005)

E. Martí et al.

Ecotoxicological tests assessment of soils polluted by chromium (VI) or pentachlorophenol

Sci. Total. Environ.

(2007)

J.P. Odendaal et al.

Quantifying histopathological alterations in the hepatopancreas of the woodlouse Porcellio laevis (Isopoda) as a biomarker of cadmium exposure

Ecotox. Environ. Safe.

(2003)

Cited by (15)

New insights into the bioremediation of petroleum contaminants: A systematic review
2023, Chemosphere
Petroleum product is an essential resource for energy, that has been exploited by wide range of industries and regular life. A carbonaceous contamination of marine and terrestrial environments caused by errant runoffs of consequential petroleum-derived contaminants. Additionally, petroleum hydrocarbons can have adverse effects on human health and global ecosystems and also have negative demographic consequences in petroleum industries. Key contaminants of petroleum products, primarily includes aliphatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), resins, and asphaltenes. On environmental interaction, these pollutants result in ecotoxicity as well as human toxicity. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, DNA mutations, and protein dysfunction are a few key causative mechanisms behind the toxic impacts. Henceforth, it becomes very evident to have certain remedial strategies which could help on eliminating these xenobiotics from the environment. This brings the efficacious application of bioremediation to remove or degrade pollutants from the ecosystems. In the recent scenario, extensive research and experimentation have been implemented towards bio-benign remediation of these petroleum-based pollutants, aiming to reduce the load of these toxic molecules in the environment. This review gives a detailed overview of petroleum pollutants, and their toxicity. Methods used for degrading them in the environment using microbes, periphytes, phyto-microbial interactions, genetically modified organisms, and nano-microbial remediation. All of these methods could have a significant impact on environmental management.
Environmental risk assessment of pesticides in tropical terrestrial ecosystems: Test procedures, current status and future perspectives
2019, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Citation Excerpt :
However, the originally tropical isopod Porcellionides pruinosus has often been proposed and used as a test species in both temperate and tropical regions (e.g. Loureiro et al., 2005, 2009; Santos et al., 2011; Van Gestel et al., 2018). Other isopod species have also successfully been collected in tropical areas, cultivated under laboratory conditions and used in ecotoxicity (lethality and avoidance) tests (Da Silva-Júnior et al., 2014; Niemeyer et al., 2009, 2018c). Although these concern exotic species such as Cubaris murina, Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio dilatatus, they play an important role in litter decomposition in anthropized tropical areas and may hence be considered as relevant isopod species for tropical ecotoxicity testing.
Despite the increasing use of pesticides in tropical countries, research and legislative efforts have focused on their temperate counterparts. This paper presents a review of the literature on environmental risk assessment of pesticides for tropical terrestrial agroecosystems. It aims at evaluating potential differences in pesticide risk between temperate and tropical regions as well as to highlight research needs in the latter. Peculiarities of pesticide risks in tropical terrestrial agroecosystems are discussed in subsections 1) agricultural practices; 2) research efforts; 3) fate and exposure; 4) toxicity testing methods; and 5) sensitivity. The intensive and often inadequate pesticide application practices in tropical areas are likely to result in a relatively greater pesticide exposure in edge-of-field water bodies. Since pesticide fate may be different under tropical conditions, tropical scenarios for models estimating predicted environmental pesticide concentrations should be developed. Sensitivity comparisons do not indicate a consistent similar, greater or lower relative sensitivity of tropical soil organisms as compared to temperate organisms. However, several methods and procedures for application in the tropics need to be developed, which include: 1) identifying and collecting natural soils to be used as reference test substrates in tests; 2) identifying and discerning the range of sensitivity of native test species to soil contaminants; 3) developing test guidelines applicable to tropical/subtropical conditions; and 4) developing methods and procedures for higher tier testing for full development and implementation of environmental risk assessment schemes.
Genotoxic damage in coelomocytes of Eisenia andrei exposed to urban soils
2019, Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis
Citation Excerpt :
The SCGE assay enables detection of primary lesions in the DNA strands resulting from the balance of the DNA induction and repair mechanisms, while the micronucleus test reveals chromosomal damage (aneuploidy and clastogenicity) [38,51,52]. Oil refinery industries generate large amounts of hazardous waste [53], contaminating the environment with various classes of hydrocarbons and different metals [54–56]. Metals are notable for their wide environmental dispersion, their tendency to accumulate in the tissues of different organisms and their ability to present genotoxic potential, even at low levels of exposure [29,57].
Based on the hypothesis that urban activities can deposit chemical contaminants in soil and consequently have an impact on the vitality of key organisms of the ecosystem, the aim of the present study was to analyse genotoxicity in earthworm’s coelomocytes in urban soil samples in comparison to soil samples from protected areas. Earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were exposed to soil samples for 14 days, subsequently the coelomocytes were extracted with an 10% ethanol solution and used in single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay and the micronucleus (MN) assay. The levels of copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, and arsenic were measured in monitored soil samples. Earthworms exposed to urban soils had higher levels of DNA damage, according to the results of the SCGE assay, than earthworms exposed to protected area soils. The frequency of micronuclei did not differ between the studied soil samples. There was an association between % DNA (SCGE assay) and arsenic and zinc levels. Copper, lead and zinc levels in urban soil samples exceeded the limits of legal values in Brazil. Our findings show that the genotoxicity markers we tested are sensitive to contamination and this association should be taken into account by regulatory agencies.
Boric acid as a reference substance in avoidance behaviour tests with Porcellio dilatatus (Crustacea: Isopoda)
2018, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Citation Excerpt :
This comminution of litter increases its surface area to be colonized by microorganisms, improving the process of decomposition (David, 2014). Several studies have indicated the sensitivity of isopods to soil contaminants (Daam et al., 2011) and its suitability in ecotoxicity tests (Drobne, 1997; Sousa et al., 1998; Da Silva-Júnior et al., 2014). Ecotoxicity tests with isopods aim to evaluate chemical impact for these populations in contaminated areas or in a predictive approach, e.g., before soil disposal of residues or before application of new products to soil.
Isopods are macrodecomposers in terrestrial ecosystems, contributing to soil organic matter breakdown and nutrient cycling. They have been considered sensitive in laboratory tests designed to evaluate contaminants effects and are considered likely candidates to have a standardized protocol for ecotoxicity tests. For this purpose, a reference substance should be proposed as positive control in laboratory tests. This work aimed to evaluate the avoidance behaviour of the isopod species Porcellio dilatatus to boric acid (H₃BO₃; BA). Interlaboratory comparison tests were carried out based on the ISO guideline for earthworms, using tropical artificial soil as substrate, in the concentrations of 0, 125, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1300 and 1800 mg BA kg⁻¹ soil. Avoidance behaviour was evaluated in group (six organisms per replicate) and in individual tests (one organism per replicate), in dual-section plastic boxes, which received control soil (not contaminated) in one side and tested soil (with BA) in another one. The percentage of organisms in each side was recorded after 48 h, and data were analysed using Fisher exact test (p < 0.05) and t-test. Results showed significant avoidance response in individual tests at 250 mg kg⁻¹ and in group tests at 500 mg kg⁻¹. Limited habitat function (< 20% of organisms) for both tests and laboratories were observed at the highest tested concentration of 1800 mg kg⁻¹, indicating the low sensitivity of this species to BA in avoidance tests, if compared to other substances in literature. Results showed that BA can be used as reference substance until a better option will be proposed.
Petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) in groundwater aquifers: An overview of environmental fate, toxicity, microbial degradation and risk-based remediation approaches
2018, Environmental Technology and Innovation
Petroleum hydrocarbon (PH) contamination of soil and aquatic ecosystems is a serious global issue. PH are classified as xenobiotics and emerging priority pollutants. When released into the environment, fate and behavior of PH varies widely with the particular composition and physicochemical properties. Usually, PH with higher molecular weight are toxic and seldom mobilizes in subsurface plumes when compared to their low molecular weight counterparts. Due to the toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic nature of PH, various remediation approaches are currently employed for their clean-up from the environment. Degradation of PH by the activity of native microbes is considered as a significant eco-friendly and cost effective approach for the remediation of PH contaminated sites. Changes in the microbial adaptations and dynamics are important indicators for monitoring the effects of PH contamination. Several analytical techniques are available for the identification and quantification of PH present in contaminated sites. Also, toxicity tests are widely employed to monitor the effect of remediated sites where analytical techniques fall short to identify certain PH due to the lack of standardized methods and low concentrations. Consequently, this review provides an overview of environmental fate, toxicity, and remediation of PH with particular emphasis on risk-based remediation which considers the use of both analytical and toxicological studies for effective management and remediation of PH contaminated sites.
Comparative evaluation of different bioremediation techniques for crude oil-contaminated soil
2022, International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

View all citing articles on Scopus

: Supported by Brazil National Petroleum Agency and Petrobras (No. PRH-ANP/MME/MCT 27).

View full text

Ecotoxicological Tools for Landfarming Soil Evaluation in a Petrochemical Complex Area

Abstract

Sci. Total Environ.

Appl. Soil Ecol.

Ecotox. Environ. Safe.

Ecotox. Environ. Safe.

Ecotox. Environ. Safe.

Soil Biol. Biochem.

Chemosphere.

Org. Geochem.

Eur. J. Soil. Biol.

Environ. Pollut.

Ecotox. Environ. Safe.

Chemosphere.

Environ. Pollut.

Environ. Pollut.

Environ. Pollut.

Sci. Total. Environ.

Ecotox. Environ. Safe.