Determination of toxicity of spoil substrates after brown coal mining using a laboratory reproduction test with Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta)

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 162; no. 1-4; pp. 37 - 47
• Main Authors: Frouz, J, Kristufek, V, Bastl, J, Kalcik, J, Vankova, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.03.2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: aluminum; animal reproduction; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; chronic toxicity; coal; Coal mining; Conductivity; earthworms; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Enchytraeus; Enchytraeus crypticus; Environmental monitoring; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; iron; Laboratories; mine spoil; Oligochaeta; Organic matter; pH effects; Polyphenols; soil pH; soil pollution; Substrates; Toxicity; toxicity testing; Czech Republic; Germany; Czech Rep; Laboratory study; Toxicity; Toxicity test; Annelida; Oligochaeta; Mining; Substrate; Chronic; Reproduction; post-mining sites; Enchytraeidae; Coal mining; Invertebrata; Mining industry; brown coal mining; chronic toxicity test; spoil substrates; Mining waste
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-005-5991-y

Laboratory-reared cultures of Enchytraeus crypticus were used in a reproduction toxicity test to evaluate the toxicity of 46 spoil substrates collected in four brown coal mining areas in the Czech Republic and Germany. A set of substrate parameters (pH, conductivity, Na, Ca, K, Al, Fe, loss of ignition and polyphenol contents) were measured for each spoil and correlated with spoil toxicity for E. crypticus. Toxicity increased with decreasing pH and increasing Al, Fe content. Spoil with a pH below 3 did not support the survival of E. crypticus. However, some alkaline spoils with high conductivity and ion concentration were also toxic. Toxicity was positively correlated with the loss of ignition and polyphenol content. The results indicate that the toxicity of post-mining spoil substrates have multiple origins. Most frequently the toxicity of post-mining substrates corresponds with low pH and consequent toxicity of Al and Fe. However some substrates may be toxic due to high ion concentrations. The potential role of fossil organic matter (namely polyphenols) in toxicity of post-mining substrates requires further research.