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COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF CHEMICALS TO EARTHWORMS
Citation:
Callahan, C., M. Shirazi, AND E. Neuhauser. COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF CHEMICALS TO EARTHWORMS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-94/161 (NTIS PB94160462), 1994.
Description:
The concentration-response (mortality) relationships of four species of earthworms, Eisentia fetida, Allolobophora tuberculata, Eudrilus eugeniae, and Perionyx excavatus are summarized for 62 chemicals and two test protocols. eibull function is used to summarize these data for each chemical in terms of sensitivity and toxicity, in addition to the LC50. he estimation of the Weibull parameters a and k summarize the entire concentration-response relationship. his technique should be applicable to a variety of testing protocols with different species whenever the goal is summarizing the shape of the concentration response curves to fully evaluate chemical impact on organisms. n some cases for these data four orders of magnitude separate LC50s of the soil test and the contact test for the same chemical and species. ll four species appear to be similar in range of toxicity and tolerance to these chemicals, suggesting that Eisenia fetida may be representative of these four species and these chemicals.