Evaluating environmental hazards of land applying composted diazinon using earthworm bioassays

Environmental hazards resulting from land application of composted pesticide residue have not been rigorously evaluated. This study was conducted to examine the toxicity of a composted pesticide residue using earthworms (Eisenia foetida Savigny) as a microinvertebrate model in a soil bioassay system. Diazinon, which was used in these experiments as a test pesticide, was removed from simulated rinsate (wastewater) by sorption onto peat moss. Following the rinsate clean-up phase, diazinon-laden peat moss was placed into bioreactors and composted for either 30 or 60 days. Earthworms were then exposed to soil amended with the composted material. Mortality and symptomatic effects characteristic of acetylcholinesterase inhibition, including weight loss, reduced burying ability and curling, occurred in earthworms exposed to soil amended with either uncomposted or 30-day composted diazinon, but not in those exposed to soil amended with 60-day composted diazinon. The amount of solvent-extractable diazinon from compost was not directly related to acute earthworm toxicity based on the selected criteria. These results indicated a reduction in diazinon bioavailability during latter 30 d of composting that did not correspond to a reduction in solvent-extractable diazinon concentrations. Measuring symptomatic effects of xenobiotics as described in this study may increase the sensitivity and diagnostic ability of earthworm bioassays.