The Bioavailability of Copper and Mercury to the Common Nettle (Urtica Dioica) and the Earthworm Eisenia Fetida from Contaminated Dredge Spoil

Abstract

The contaminants Hg and Cu, as well as Fe, Mn and K were sequentially extracted from upland disposed dredge spoil using DTPA and 10% nitric acid. Concentrations of these metals in aerial plant tissue and roots of Urtica dioica growing on the dredge spoil were also determined and used to correlate the biological absorption coefficients (BACs) and mobile element absorption coefficients (MACs) with soil extractable metals. DTPA extractions were most suitable for prediction of aerial plant tissue uptake of Cu, Mn and K whilst total Hg and Fe soil concentrations were correlated with plant root BACs and MACs. A laboratory bioassay using Eisenia fetida was also used to assess the potential biological uptake of the contaminants. Both Hg and Cu were accumulated by the worms, but interpretation of the results was hampered by the inherent difficulties of such active biomonitoring.