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Toxicity assessment through multiple endpoint bioassays in soils posing environmental risk according to regulatory screening values

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Abstract

Toxicity profiles of two soils (a brownfield in Legazpi and an abandoned iron mine in Zugaztieta; Basque Country) contaminated with several metals (As, Zn, Pb and Cu in Legazpi; Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu in Zugaztieta) and petroleum hydrocarbons (in Legazpi) were determined using a multi-endpoint bioassay approach. Investigated soils exceeded screening values (SVs) of regulatory policies in force (Basque Country; Europe). Acute and chronic toxicity bioassays were conducted with a selected set of test species (Vibrio fischeri, Dictyostelium discoideum, Lactuca sativa, Raphanus sativus and Eisenia fetida) in combination with chemical analysis of soils and elutriates, as well as with bioaccumulation studies in earthworms. The sensitivity of the test species and the toxicity endpoints varied depending on the soil. It was concluded that whilst Zugaztieta soil showed very little or no toxicity, Legazpi soil was toxic according to almost all the toxicity tests (solid phase Microtox®, D. discoideum inhibition of fruiting body formation and developmental cycle solid phase assays, lettuce seed germination and root elongation test, earthworm acute toxicity and reproduction tests, D. discoideum cell viability and replication elutriate assays). Thus, albeit both soils had similar SVs, their ecotoxicological risk, and therefore the need for intervening, was different for each soil as unveiled after toxicity profiling based on multiple endpoint bioassays. Such a toxicity profiling approach is suitable to be applied for scenario-targeted soil risk assessment in those cases where applicable national/regional soil legislation based on SVs demands further toxicity assessment.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are indebted to Dr. Lara Boatti and Prof. Aldo Viarengo (DISIT, University of Piemonte Orientale) for their excellent support and valuable scientific discussions. This research was funded by Basque Government (UE09+/58, IE03-110 and IE06-179 Research Projects; Grant to Consolidated Research Group, GIC07/26-IT-393-07), UPV/EHU Research and Formation Unit in “Ecosystem Health Protection” (UFI 11/37) and Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (C6L-2006-06154). ARR was a recipient of a pre-doctoral fellowship from Fundación Centros Tecnológicos Iñaki Goenaga.

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  1. Ekoiz-Berrilur Consortium, CBET Res. Grp. Zoology and Animal Cell Biology Department, Science and Technology Faculty, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena, 48940, Leioa-Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain

    A. Rodriguez-Ruiz, V. Asensio, B. Zaldibar, M. Soto & I. Marigómez

  2. CBET Res. Grp, Res Ctr Exper Mar Biol and Biotechnol (Plentzia Marine Station), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza, 48620, Plentzia-Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain

    M. Soto & I. Marigómez

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Rodriguez-Ruiz, A., Asensio, V., Zaldibar, B. et al. Toxicity assessment through multiple endpoint bioassays in soils posing environmental risk according to regulatory screening values. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 9689–9708 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2915-7

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