Earthworms and Soil Pollutants.docVIP

Sensors 2011, 11, 11157-11167; doi:10.3390/s111211157 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Review Earthworms and Soil Pollutants Takeshi Hirano 1,* and Kazuyoshi Tamae 2 1 Department of Life and Environment Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 808-0135, Japan 2 Division of Teacher Training, Faculty of Education and Culture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan; E-Mail: k-tamae@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: t-hirano@kitakyu-u.ac.jp; Tel.: +81-93-695-3206; Fax: +81-93-695-3299. Received: 12 October 2011; in revised form: 1 November 2011 / Accepted: 18 November 2011 / Published: 28 November 2011 Abstract: Although the toxicity of metal contaminated soils has been assessed with various bioassays, more information is needed about the biochemical responses, which may help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in metal toxicity. We previously reported that the earthworm, Eisenia fetida, accumulates cadmium in its seminal vesicles. The bio-accumulative ability of earthworms is well known, and thus the earthworm could be a useful living organism for the bio-monitoring of soil pollution. In this short review, we describe recent studies concerning the relationship between earthworms and soil pollutants, and discuss the possibility of using the earthworm as a bio-monitoring organism for soil pollution. Keywords: earthworm; metal; oxidative DNA damage 1. Introduction It is well known that earthworms play an important role in the soil macrofauna biomass. They are extremely important in soil formation, principally by consuming organic matter, fragmenting it, and mixing it intimately with soil mineral particles to form water-stable aggregates [1]. In particular, the bioaccumulation ability of earthworms is essential for a bio-monitoring organism [2]. Therefore, the earthworm is likely to