Eisenia foetida

Effects on terrestrial organisms are reported only for mixtures of mono- and dimethyltin compounds (50 50 and 25 75), with 14-day LC50 values of 320 and >1000 mg/kg (as chloride), respectively, in the earthworm (Eisenia foetida), respective NOECs were 100 and 1000 mg/kg (as chloride) (Wilbury, 1995a,b, 1996). 

Wilbury (1995a) Acute toxicity of mixed methyltin chlorides to the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Marblehead, MA, T.R. Wilbury Laboratories, Inc., 15 December (Study No. 860-MO). 

Hartenstein, R., E.F. Neuhauser, and J. Collier. 1980. Accumulation of heavy metals in the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Jour. Environ. Qual. 9 23-26. 

Methylmercury compounds at concentrations of 25.0 mg Hg/kg in soil were fatal to all tiger worms (Eisenia foetida) in 12 weeks at 5.0 mg/kg, however, only 21% died in a similar period (Beyer et al. 1985). Inorganic mercury compounds were also toxic to earthworms (Octochaetus pattoni) in 60 days, 50% died at soil Hg levels of 0.79 mg/kg, and all died at 5.0 mg/kg (Abbasi and Soni 1983). 

Methylmercury compounds have induced abnormal sex chromosomes in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) (NAS 1978 Khera 1979). Earthworms (Eisenia foetida) exposed to soil containing methylmercury concentrations of 5.0 mg Hg/kg — typical of soil Hg levels near chloralkali plants — showed a significant reduction in the number of segments regenerated after 12 weeks, and contained... 

Beyer, W.N., E. Cromartie, and G.B. Moment. 1985. Accumulation of methylmercury in the earthworm, Eisenia foetida, and its effect on regeneration. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 35 157-162. 

Data on nickel toxicity to terrestrial invertebrates are scarce. A soil concentration of 757 mg/kg DW soil is lethal to 50% of earthworms (Eisenia foetida) in 14 days, and higher concentrations of 1200 to 12,000 mg/kg DW soil for shorter periods produced reduced growth and survival in the same species (WHO 1991). Earthworms are less sensitive to nickel if the medium is rich in microorganisms and organic matter, thus, making the nickel less bioavailable (WHO 1991). 

Earthworm, Eisenia foetida 10-12 pg Zn/cm2 applied to epidermis 662 mg Zn/kg artificial soil (95% confidence interval 574-674)... 

Anton, F.A., E. Laborda, P. Laborda, and E. Ramos. 1993b. Carbofuran acute toxicity to Eisenia foetida Savigny. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 50 407-412. 

Gilman, A.P and A. Vardanis. 1974. Carbofuran. Comparative toxicity and metabolism in the worms Lumbricus terrestris L. and Eisenia foetida S. Jour. Agric. Food Chem. 22 625-628. 

Compound 1080 was also effective against jackrabbits, foxes, and moles. Baits containing 0.05 to 0.1% 1080 on vegetables were used in California to kill jackrabbits (Lepus spp.) and various rodents (Schitoskey 1975). The Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), intentionally introduced onto the Aleutian Islands in 1835 (Bailey 1993), almost eliminated the Aleutian Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucoparlia) by 1967. 1080-tallow baits were successfully used to control fox populations (Byrd et al. 1988 Tietjen et al. 1988 Bailey 1993). Earthworm baits are used to kill moles. The earthworms are soaked for 45 min in a 2.5% solution of 1080 and placed in mole burrows. The solution can be used several times for additional lots of worms however, the use of the manure worm (Eisenia foetida) should be avoided because it is seldom eaten by moles (Peacock 1964). 

Gunn A. and J.W. Sadd (1994). The effect of ivermectin on the survival, behavior and cocoon production of the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Pedobiologia 38 327-333. 

Earthworm, Eisenia foetida From sewage treatment plant sludge containing 299-650 mg Cr/kg Whole less gut 2 weeks residence 28 weeks residence Grain fed worms Feeding on cattle manures... 

Van Gansen, P. S. Structure deglandes calciques i Eisenia foetida Sav. Bull. biol. Fr. Belg. 93, 38 (1959)... 

Several similar cubic membrane systems can be found in photoreceptor cells in particular the ER of retinal pigment epithelial cells, discussed below. Further, the "Undulierender Tubulikdrper" associated with the ER in spermatids of Eisenia foetida [84] are cubic membranes. 

Van Gansen-Semal, P., 1959. Structures des glandes calciques A Eisenia foetida Sav. Bull. Biol. Fr. Belg., 93 38—63. 

ASTM. 1995. Standard guide for conducting a laboratory soil toxicity test with lumbricid earthworm Eisenia foetida. ASTM 1996 Annual Book of Standards Vol. 11.05, E1676-95. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA, pp. 1093-1109. 

International Organization for Standardization. 1992. Soil quality. Effects of pollutants on earthworms (Eisenia foetida). Part 1 Method for the determination of acute toxicity using artificial soil substrate. BSI, London. Draft International Standard ISO/DIS 11268-1. 

As for the soil compartment, the comet assay on coelomocytes of earthworms (Eisenia foetida) kept in PAH-contaminated soil samples had higher DNA damage than in control samples (Verschaeve, 2002). However no dose-effect relationship was observed. Also, the levels of PAH-DNA adducts in Lumbricus terrestris, another earthworm species, kept on industrially contaminated soils increased with exposure time (Van Schooten et al., 1995). Few surveys have been performed on terrestrial plant species, but trifluralin was shown to induce a significant increase in tail length in the comet assay applied on the leaves of Viciafaba (Bierkens et al., 1998). 

The results of a study using earthworms (Eisenia foetida) and atra-zine, phenanthrene, and naphthalene that had been incubated for increasing times in sterile soil (Kelsey and Alexander 1997) illustrated the effect of length of exposure to the toxicant, and were consistent with the increasing significance of aging. 

Fitzpatrick, L.C., R. Sassani, B.J. Venables, and A.J. Goven. 1992. Comparative toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls to the earthworms Eisenia foetida and Lumbriculus terrestris. Environ. Pollut. 77 65-69. 

Test organism Eisenia foetida or Eisenia andrei (red worm). Principle/Procedure The mortality of adult earthworms placed in potentially contaminated soil is determined. 

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