Effects of an anionic surfactant, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, on survival, reproduction and growth of the soil-living collembolanFolsomia fimetaria

Abstract

Sewages sludge is widely used as a fertilizer or disposed of by land application. Sewage sludge often contains potentially toxic compounds and elements in significant concentrations. A major component is the anionic detergent, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), which is frequently used in industrial and household detergents, and which may be found in the range 4 to 10 g kg−1 dry matter. The effects of LAS on Folsomia fimetaria L. were investigated by use of a single species test system with 30 g soil spiked with LAS. Tests with either newly hatched individuals or adults (16–19 d old) were run for 3 weeks followed by extraction in a high-gradient extracting system. Juvenile mortality increased with increasing concentrations of LAS, whereas adult mortality was unaffected at the LAS levels tested (0–1,000 mg/kg dry soil). Effective concentration, 10%, values were estimated as 163 mg/kg for growth of juveniles, 185 mg/kg for molting frequency, and 147 mg/kg for reproductive output. Rough estimates show that significant negative direct effects on populations of F. fimetaria may be expected at concentrations 8 to 20 times higher than those likely to be found in sludge-amended soils.