Impact of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (L.) on As, Cu, Pb and Zn mobility and speciation in contaminated soils

Sizmur, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9835-7195, Palumbo-Roe, B., Watts, M. J. and Hodson, M. E. (2011) Impact of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (L.) on As, Cu, Pb and Zn mobility and speciation in contaminated soils. Environmental Pollution, 159 (3). pp. 742-748. ISSN 0269-7491 doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.11.033

Abstract/Summary

To assess the risks that contaminated soils pose to the environment properly a greater understanding of how soil biota influence the mobility of metal(loid)s in soils is required. Lumbricus terrestris L. were incubated in three soils contaminated with As, Cu, Pb and Zn. The concentration and speciation of metal(loid)s in pore waters and the mobility and partitioning in casts were compared with earthworm-free soil. Generally the concentrations of water extractable metal(loid)s in earthworm casts were greater than in earthworm-free soil. The impact of the earthworms on concentration and speciation in pore waters was soil and metal specific and could be explained either by earthworm induced changes in soil pH or soluble organic carbon. The mobilisation of metal(loid)s in the environment by earthworm activity may allow for leaching or uptake into biota.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/20337
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Publisher	Elsevier
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