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Survival and Reproduction Tests using Springtails Reveal Weathered Petroleum Hydrocarbon Soil Toxicity in Boreal Ecozone
Summary
Researchers conducted survival and reproduction toxicity tests using two native springtail species to assess soil toxicity at a Canadian boreal industrial site contaminated by accidental petroleum hydrocarbon spills. The study found that weathered petroleum hydrocarbons in fine-grained soils remained toxic to springtails, revealing persistent ecotoxicological risks at contaminated industrial sites.
Abstract Survival and reproduction tests were conducted using two native springtail (subclass: Collembola) species to determine the toxicity of a fine-grained (< 0.005–0.425 mm) soil from an industrial site located in the Canadian boreal ecozone. Accidental petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) release continuously occurred at this site until 1998, resulting in a total hydrocarbon concentration of 12,800 mg/kg. Subfractions of the PHC-contaminated soil were characterized using Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Fractions, which are based on effective carbon numbers (nC). Fraction 2 (> nC10 to nC16) was measured at 8,400 mg/kg and Fraction 3 (> nC16 to nC34) at 4,250 mg/kg in the contaminated soil. Age-synchronized colonies of Folsomia candida and Proisotoma minuta were subject to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% relative contamination mixtures of the PHC-contaminated and background site soil (< 100 mg/kg total PHCs) for 21 and 28 days, respectively. Survival and reproduction decreased significantly (Kruskal-Wallis Tests: p < 0.05, df = 4.0) in treatments of the contaminated site soil compared to the background soil. In both species, the most significant decline in survival and reproduction occurred between the 0% and 25% contaminated soil. Complete mortality was observed in the 100% contaminated site soil and no progenies were observed in the 75% contaminated soil, for both species. This study showed that 25 + years of soil weathering has not eliminated toxicity of fine-grained PHC-contaminated soil on two native terrestrial springtail species. Adverse effects to springtail health were attributed to exposure to soils dominated by PHC Fraction 2.
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