Comparison of elemental contents in earthworm cast and soil from a mercury-contaminated site (Idrija area, Slovenia)

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to test the new sampling media—earthworm casts in a highly contaminated area. The investigation was carried out at the ancient Hg ore roasting site Pšenk in the surroundings of Idrija, where extremely high Hg contents in soils and SOM were determined in previous investigations. 32 earthworm cast samples were collected in the research grid 30×30m in order to compare the Hg contents and spatial distribution in earthworm casts to the values and distributions in SOM and soil (0–15cm). Extremely elevated Hg concentrations were determined in earthworm casts from the studied area ranging from 5.4 to 4330mg/kg with the median of 31mg/kg. The Hg values in casts are somewhat lower than in soil (6.3–8600mg/kg) and slightly higher compared to soil organic matter (SOM) (1.5–4200mg/kg). Strong correlation (r²=0.75) between Hg contents in casts and soil was found, while correlation between casts and SOM was positive but weaker (r²=0.35). Spatial distribution of Hg in earthworm casts show the highest concentrations in the central part of investigated area, similar to the distribution in soil. Hg contents rapidly decrease from the center toward the margins of the studied area, where they reach values of less than 50mg/kg. It was shown that Hg contents and dispersion in casts are comparable to those in soil, which indicates that at investigated area soil contamination is strongly reflected in contamination of earthworm casts.