Accumulation of heavy metals by earthworms in boron-contaminated area (Kirka-Eskisehir): (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae)

• Published in: Zoology in the Middle East pp. 111 - 116
• Main Authors: Arslan, N, Cicek, A, Akkan, C, Kilinc, D, Aci, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Eiseniella tetraedra; Lumbricidae; Oligochaeta
• ISSN: 0939-7140
• DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2010.10638463

Boron is a naturally occurring material and is used in domestic and industrial products. Kirka region possesses the largest boron deposits not only in Turkey but also in the world. Even though boron is an essential nutrient for plants and an essential element for many organisms, certain concentrations can be toxic to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. This paper investigates the concentration of boron in soil and an earthworm (Eiseniella tetraedra) collected from five sampling sites at different times during the year 2008 from surrounding areas of the Kirka county of Eskisehir. Because the adsorption of borates into soils is controlled by the presence of aluminum and iron, earthworms and soil were also analyzed for aluminum and iron. Our results show that earthworm samples accumulated more boron than soil and at five sampling sites aluminum and iron were present in soil at relatively high concentrations.