Assessment of toxicity to earthworm Eisenia fetida of lead contaminated shooting range soils with different properties

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the toxicity of trace elements to earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in recreational and military shooting range soils. The earthworms were exposed to soils; then mortality, growth, and reproduction endpoints were determined. In the recreational shooting range, the total Pb concentration was 6151 mg kg(-1) and in the soil of the impact berm of the military shooting range, it was 653 mg kg(-1). These Pb contaminated soils caused significantly higher mortality, weight loss and lower reproduction than the reference grassland soil. The most sensitive indicator was reproduction rate - a significantly lower cocoon production was found in shooting range soils than in reference soil. The soil organic matter content and bulk density also influenced survival of earthworms.