Chronic toxicity of energetic compounds in soil determined using the earthworm (Eisenia andrei) reproduction test

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Abstract
Earthworm survival tests are commonly used in terrestrial ecotoxicology to assess the toxicity of compounds in soil. Earthworm (Eisenia andrei) reproduction tests were used to assess the sublethal and chronic effects of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5,7-triazacyclohexane (RDX). Effects on reproduction parameters (total number of cocoons, number of hatched cocoons, number of juveniles, juvenile biomass, and hatchability) were measured in TNT- and RDX-spiked artificial soil. For TNT, the lowest-observed-effect concentration (LOEC) was 110 mg/kg dry soil, and the no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) was 55 mg/kg. For the RDX-spiked soil, the LOEC was 95 mg/kg dry soil, and the NOEC was Eisenia sp. reproduction assay when used as a sublethal effect assessment tool for TNT- or RDX-contaminated soils.