The role of earthworms as biological indicators of soil contamination.

Abstract

Earthworms are important components of the soil system. mainly because of their favorable effects on soil structure and function. In addition. earthworms help to increase soil fertility by formation of an organic matter layer in topsoil. These features. among others. have led to the popularity of earthworms as excellent biological indicators of soil pollution. Thus. earthworms are appropriate sentinel organisms to evaluate the impact of human activities to soil. The most widely studied earthworm species are Eisenia fetida. Eisenia andrei. Lumbricus terrestris and Lumbricus rubellus. Internationally standardized or academically not standardized test are described in the present article such as the nematode maturity index. the earthworm reproduction test. the lysosomal membrane stability test. immune system tests. enzymatic methods. heat-shock protein response assessment and DNA damage and alterations analyses