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Copper toxicity to earthworms: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis
C Pelosi1, F Gavinelli2, L Petit-Dit-Grezeriat3
1INRAE, Avignon Université, UMR EMMAH, F-84000, Avignon, France.
Chemosphere
|July 5, 2024
Summary
Copper fungicide use in agriculture can harm earthworms. Sub-individual effects, like reduced hatching success, occur at lower copper concentrations than lethal effects, indicating high sensitivity in soil organisms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Soil ecology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Copper-based fungicides are widely used in agriculture.
- Accumulation of copper in topsoil poses risks to soil organisms, particularly earthworms.
- Earthworms play a crucial role in soil health and ecosystem function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of copper on earthworms across various biological organization levels.
- To determine critical copper toxicity values for earthworms using meta-analysis.
- To account for lethal and sub-lethal effects, species, and exposure conditions in copper toxicity assessment.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of existing studies on copper toxicity to earthworms.
- Inclusion of lethal concentration 50 (LC50) and effect concentration 50 (EC50) for reproduction and growth.
- Consideration of sub-individual, individual, and population-level endpoints.
Main Results:
- Sub-individual endpoints (e.g., hatching success) were more sensitive to copper than higher-level endpoints.
- Hormetic growth effects observed below 80 mg Cu kg-1 dry soil.
- Weighted mean LC50: 113 mg Cu kg-1; EC50 reproduction: 94.6 mg Cu kg-1; EC50 growth: 144 mg Cu kg-1.
- Earthworms showed five times higher sensitivity to copper in natural soils compared to artificial soils.
Conclusions:
- Copper accumulation in agricultural soils significantly impacts earthworm health, particularly at sub-individual levels.
- High variability in copper toxicity data complicates threshold derivation.
- Sustainable copper use in agriculture is recommended to protect soil organisms and ecosystem health.
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