Copper

Toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods: long-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Already evaluated by the Competent Authorities for Biocides and Existing Substance Regulations.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Effects of metal pollution on the earthworm Dendrobaena rubida (Sav.) in acidified soils

Author:

Bengtsson, G. et al.

Year:

1986

Bibliographic source:

Water, Air and Soil Pollution 28, 361-383

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Survival of adult Dendrobaena rubida, cocoon production, cocoon viability, and growth of juveniles were examined in laboratory experiments when the worms were reared in acidified and metal polluted soils.

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

copper nitrate

IUPAC Name:

copper nitrate

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

other: Dendrobaena rubida

Study design

Study type:

laboratory study

Substrate type:

natural soil

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Duration:

90 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

100 mg/kg soil dw

Conc. based on:

element

Basis for effect:

reproduction

Remarks:

(No bioavailability correction possible as CEC is not given or can not be derived. The data were therefore not used for the bio-availability based PNEC derivation)

Remarks on result:

other: No bioavailability correction possible as CEC is not given or can not be derived. The data were therefore not used for the bio-availability based PNEC derivation

Any other information on results incl. tables

see Executive summary

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

A high quality NOEC value is 100 mg/kg (hatching and reproduction) was noted. No bioavailability correction possible as CEC is not given or can not be derived. The data were therefore not used for the bio-availability based PNEC derivation

Executive summary:

Survival of adult Dendrobaena rubida, cocoon production, cocoon viability, and growth of juveniles were examined in laboratory experiments when the worms were reared in acidified and metal polluted soils. Solutions of Cu, Cd and Pb were added to give total concentrations of 10, 100 and 500 µg/g in soils with a pH of 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5. Adult tissues, hatchlings and cocoons were analyzed for metals.

D. rubida survived poorly in soils with low pH, especially in combination with Pb or Cu, which accumulated in seminal vesicles and cerebral ganglion. Cocoon production was halved when pH was lowered from 6.5 to 4.5 and metals reduced the cocoon number even more in the most acid soils. Hatching success was lower than 20 % in acidified soils. In contrast, the number of hatchlings increased when pH decreased and peaked in soils polluted with Cd. While low pH reduced the embryonic development time, metals prolonged it. Juveniles grew slowly and died early at low pH.