Abstract
The detritivorous soil microarthropods are ideal models for environmental health assessment, but only scant information is available on their biomarker potentials against xenobiotics in the tropical edaphic conditions. This microcosm study has estimated short-term biochemical changes with respect to tissue nutrient levels and digestive enzyme activities in a near cosmopolitan Collembola Cyphoderus javanus Borner exposed to coal fly ash amended lateritic cropland soil (5% and 20% w/w i.e. 50 or 200 t ·ha-1), and cadmium sulphate (200 mg/kg soil)/lead acetate (200 mg/kg soil) treated sterile river sand. The levels of total tissue carbohydrates, proteins, free amino acids, and lipids decrease within 7 days in the specimens of fly ash (P α-amylase, cellulase and protease activities are also down regulated by fly ash and heavy metals (P < 0.05). It is also observed the enzyme: protein ratios increase in fly ash treated sets and decrease in lead and cadmium treated specimens. Specimens in treated sets accumulate high levels of lead and cadmium within 15 days, which decrease subsequently probably due to elimination through frequent moulting. These short-term biochemical effects in Collembola have applied importance in C. javanus, as biomarkers for quick ecotoxicological assessments in the tropical agricultural soils.
Highlights
The overload of anthropogenic waste materials can produce long-term ecological hazards in soil ecosystems
Fecundity was affected in heavy metal treatments; in control the fecundity was 155.5 ± 14.86 which strongly reduced to 72.0 ± 6.43 in Pb treated sets and to 11.0 ± 3.72 in Cd treatments within 20 days
Effect of Fly Ash and Heavy Metals on Tissue Nutrients The tissue carbohydrate content in C. javanus decreased by 51.1% in FA 5% and 62.0% in FA 20% treated soil (Figure 1) and the differences between untreated control and treated sets were highly significant (P < 0.001)
Summary
The overload of anthropogenic waste materials can produce long-term ecological hazards in soil ecosystems This serious problem is often overlooked, and emphasis is given on the permissible levels of harmful chemicals in the environment to safeguard life and welfare of humans, higher animals and crop plants. In India, fly ash is used in agricultural fields for soil conditioning, nutrient enrichment, and promotion of crop growth and yield. Some trace elements are required for the growth of plants and animals, but heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, lead, etc. Are not necessary for the growth and development of organisms Both essential and non-essential heavy metals in high quantities and long exposure periods can be detrimental to soil flora and fauna [3]. Lead is very toxic to plants and animals at high exposure levels and there is no proven biological need for lead [4]
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