Ecotoxicity of chromium (III) to Eisenia fetida, Enchytraeus albidus, and Folsomia candida

Despite growing concerns about the potential adverse effects of elevated chromium concentrations in the environment, only a few terrestrial toxicity data are available. Therefore, chronic toxicity of chromium(III) was assessed for Eisenia fetida, Enchytraeus albidus, and Folsomia candida, the three invertebrates for which standard test protocols are available. The 21-day EC50 for the cocoon production of E. fetida was 892 (679-1110) mg Cr/kg dry weight. Based on the reproduction, a 42-days EC50 of 637 (355-791) mg Cr/kg dry weight was observed for E. albidus, while for F. candida a 28-day EC50 of 604 (254-3380) mg Cr/kg dry weight was noted. Although the presented data can be considered a step forward in the assessment of the potential risks of chromium(III) in terrestrial environments, further research is needed to evaluate the influence of soil parameters on the toxicity of chromium and to quantify the effect of aging on bioavailability. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).