Joint toxic effects of cadmium and four pesticides on the earthworm (Eisenia fetida). (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Yijun; Li, Xinfang; Yang, Guiling; Wang, Yanhua; Wang, Xinquan; Cai, Leiming; Liu, Xinju
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 227(2019)
• Page Start: 489
• Page End: 495
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Soil pollution -- Ecotoxicology -- Synergy -- Joint toxicity -- Cadmium; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: The contaminants, instead of single contaminants, are usually found as chemical mixtures in terrestrial environment. However, little information is now available about the joint effects of heavy metals and farm chemicals on the soil organism. Our current study aimed to assess the combined toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and four pesticides (atrazine, chlorpyrifos, lambda -cyhalothrin and abamectin) to the earthworm ( Eisenia fetida ) with binary, ternary, quaternary and quinquenary mixtures. Two distinct kinds of bioassay systems were applied in this study, including contact filter paper test and artificial soil test. Synergistic effects were observed from two quaternary mixtures (Cd-Atrazine-Chlorpyrifos- Lambda -cyhalothrin and Cd-Chlorpyrifos- Lambda -cyhalothrin-Abamectin) and one quinquenary mixture (Cd-Atrazine-Chlorpyrifos- Lambda -cyhalothrin-Abamectin) in both bioassay systems. Besides, two binary mixtures (Cd-Atrazine and Cd- Lambda -cyhalothrin) and three ternary mixtures (Cd-Atrazine-Chlorpyrifos, Cd-Atrazine- Lambda -cyhalothrin and Cd-Chlorpyrifos- Lambda -cyhalothrin) also exhibited synergistic effects on E. fetida by the soil toxicity test. It is more practical to evaluate the contaminant toxicities to earthworm by soil toxicity test. Therefore, the effects of chemical mixtures on soil invertebrates might be underestimated by data obtained from single toxicant. Our findings would offer a better understanding of the complex effects of chemical mixtures on non-target living creatures, and these findings provided valuable insights into the interplay of different chemicals in natural environment. Highlights: Abamectin showed the highest toxicity to the earthworms by soil toxicity test. The binary mixture of cadmium-atrazine exhibited synergism by soil toxicity test. Chemical mixtures containing chlorpyrifos and lambda -cyhalothrin exerted synergy. Joint toxic effects should be incorporated into the environmental risk evaluation.