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Assessing a Tailings-Topsoil Amendment Approach for Mine Site Restoration Using Earthworm Bioaccumulation, Stress
Chiara A De Benedictis1, Helen C Poynton2, Elisa DiCarlo1
1Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland; Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Earthworms exposed to lead/zinc mine tailings accumulated toxic arsenic, lead, and zinc. Cellular stress responses in immune cells correlated with arsenic bioaccumulation, suggesting phytostabilization is feasible but arsenic requires monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Soil Biology
Background:
- Mining generates waste containing harmful elements like lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn).
- Rehabilitating mine tailings is crucial, but impacts on soil invertebrates like earthworms are understudied.
- Earthworms play a vital role in soil ecosystems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bioavailability, transfer, and toxicity of metal contaminants in earthworms exposed to Pb/Zn mine tailings.
- To assess earthworm stress responses using biomarkers and transcriptomics.
Main Methods:
- Chronic exposure of Eisenia fetida to varying dilutions of Pb/Zn mine tailings.
- Measurement of element concentrations in earthworms.
- Analysis of stress biomarkers (HSP70, CAT) and coelomocyte transcriptomics.
Main Results:
- Earthworms accumulated toxic levels of Arsenic (As), Pb, and Zn.
- Upregulation of Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) correlated with As bioaccumulation; Catalase (CAT) decreased in high tailings concentration.
- Transcriptomics identified 24 responsive genes in earthworm immune cells, including tyrosine kinase and arginase I homologs.
Conclusions:
- Pb/Zn mine tailings induce cellular stress in earthworm immune cells, linked to As bioaccumulation.
- Phytostabilization of Pb/Zn tailings appears feasible for soil infauna, but As requires management to mitigate chronic risks.
