Integrated biomarker analysis in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris: Application to the monitoring of soil heavy metal pollution

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 90; no. 11; pp. 2637 - 2644
• Main Authors: Calisi, A., Zaccarelli, N., Lionetto, M.G., Schettino, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: acetylcholinesterase; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; blood; cost effectiveness; data collection; decision making; Earthworm; earthworms; ecosystem services; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; habitat conservation; Heavy metal; heavy metals; hemoglobin; Hemoglobins - metabolism; indicator species; Lumbricus terrestris; metallothionein; Metallothionein - metabolism; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; monitoring; morphometry; Oligochaeta; Pollution; remediation; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soil pollution; statistical analysis; Terrestrial environment, soil, air; Earthworm; Biomarkers; Soil pollution; Lumbricus terrestris; Heavy metal; Biological marker; Biological indicator; Annelida; Oligochaeta; Biological monitoring; Trace element; Soils; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.11.040

► A multi-biomarker response was validated in field in Lumbricus terrestris. ► Heavy metal exposure alters earthworm hemoglobin concentration in field. ► Granulocyte size changes were demonstrated as valuable exposure biomarker in field. ► Results provide a sensitive tool for metal pollution monitoring in the soil.
As recently recognized exposure and effect assessment of soil contaminants on soil biota is necessary for decision-making related to ecosystem services and habitat protection, establishment of remediation procedures, or pollution monitoring programs. Therefore, biological approaches to soil monitoring, such as the measurement of biomarkers in soil bioindicator organisms, have recently received increasing attention. The aim of the present work was to assess the performance of a suite of cellular and biochemical biomarkers in native earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) sampled in heavy metal contaminated sites in view of the validation of this biomarker approach in soil monitoring and assessment. Besides well known and standardized biomarkers such as lysosomal membrane stability, metallothionein tissue concentration and acetylcholinesterase activity, novel potential biomarkers such as changes in blood hemoglobin concentration and granulocyte morphometric alterations were analyzed. Both univariate and multivariate (PCA) statistical analysis applied to the data set revealed that the integrated multi-marker approach in native L. terrestris under field conditions produces a sensitive and cost-effective assessment of heavy metal soil pollution, which could be incorporated as a descriptor of environmental status in future soil biomonitoring programmes.