Abstract
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a dominant phthalic acid ester (PAE) that has aroused public concern due to its resistance to degradation and its toxicity as an endocrine-disrupting compound. Effects of different concentrations of DEHP on Eisenia fetida in spiked natural soil have been studied in the body of the earthworm by means of soil cultivation tests 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after exposure. The results indicated that, in general, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, metallothionein (MT) content, the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) and all the tested geno-toxicity parameters are promoted as time elapses and with increasing concentration of DEHP. However, peroxidase (POD) activity, neutral red retention time (NRRT) and mitochondrial membrane potential difference values were found to decrease even at a low concentration of DEHP of 1 mg kg-1 soil (p<0.05). Clear toxic effects of DEHP on E. fetida have been generally recognized by means of the disturbance of antioxidant enzyme activity/content and critical proteins, cell membrane and organelle disorder and DNA damage estimated by length of tail, tail DNA ratio, and tail moment parameters. A concentration of DEHP of 3 mg kg-1 may be recommended as a precaution against the potential risk of PAEs in soils and for indicating suitable threshold values for other soil animals and soil micro-organisms.
Highlights
Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are a family of ubiquitous chemical additives used as plasticizers, mainly in polyvinylchloride (PVC) products [1]
In the present study we investigated some effects of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on E. fetida in natural soil spiked with different concentrations of DEHP during a cultivation period of 28 days
Together with DnBP which was degraded by > 54% over the same cultivation period and under the same conditions the residual levels of DEHP in soil with earthworms supports the conclusion that the degradation rate decreases with increasing molecular weight of PAEs, the presence of earthworms may promote the degradation of organic matter [10, 23, 24]
Summary
Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are a family of ubiquitous chemical additives used as plasticizers, mainly in polyvinylchloride (PVC) products [1]. They are combined physically rather than chemically to the polymer structure so that PAE compounds can be readily released into the environment in relatively large quantities during the extensive use of PVC products [2]. DEHP toxicity to earthworm in spiked natural soil
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