Selenium toxicity, bioaccumulation, and distribution in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to different substrates

Selenium (Se) is an essential microelement for human or animal health. At high concentrations, it can cause Se poisoning. Human activities (such as coal burning and mining) threaten soil biota by mobilizing high levels of Se. We used the earthworm Eisenia fetida as a bio-indicator of environmental pollutants to investigate Se acute toxicity, enrichment, and distribution through exposure tests using filter paper, artificial soil and cow manure. The 24 h- and 48 h-LC50 for the filter paper contact test were 2.7 and 1.52 mu g/cm(2). In artificial soil test, the 14 d-LC50 and 14 d-biomass inhibition concentration (IC20) were 63.86 and 59.81 mg/kg, respectively. The cow manure resulted in a 2.2- and 2.6-fold higher LC50 and IC20 than artificial soil results, respectively. Earthworms accumulated the largest Se load (89.47 mg/kg) in artificial soil containing 80 mg Se/kg and only accumulated 90.3 mg/kg in cow manure containing 160 mg Se/kg; 46.6-60.59% of the total Se was distributed in the tail of E. fetida. The Se enrichment rate (SERSe) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF(Se)) scored higher in artificial soil than in cow manure with the same Se concentration exposure, and the highest SERSe was 6.21 and 6.31 mg Se/kg earthworm/d, respectively. The highest BAF(Se) was 1.49 in artificial soil and 0.75 in cow manure. Our results demonstrate that selenite is more toxic to earthworms living in artificial soil than in cow manure. E. fetida possesses certain Se detoxification mechanisms by distributing Se in the tail.

Automated summary

The study investigated selenium acute toxicity, enrichment, and distribution using earthworms as bio-indicators. Results showed that selenite is more toxic to earthworms in artificial soil, but earthworms possess detoxification mechanisms by distributing selenium in their tails.