Acute and sublethal effects of two insecticides on earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) under laboratory conditions.

Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) were exposed to commercial formulations of endosulfan and aldicarb for 2, 7, and 15 days, and the LC(10), LC(25), and LC(50) were determined. Worms were then exposed to LC(10), LC(25), and LC(50) concentrations of endosulfan and LC(10) and LC(25) concentrations of aldicarb. The growth rate and total protein content were determined and related to endosulfan and aldicarb residues in soil and earthworms. Aldicarb was more toxic than endosulfan under the experimental conditions. The residues of endosulfan and aldicarb caused a significant reduction in the growth rate and total protein content of earthworms. The residues of endosulfan and aldicarb were monitored in soil and earthworms after 2, 7, and 15 days of exposure. The residues remaining in the soil after the experiments ranged between 37.75% and 68.54% of the applied concentration for endosulfan and between 10.13% and 67.71% of the applied concentration for aldicarb. Small amounts of both insecticides were detected in worms, and accumulation was more important for endosulfan. This study proposes the use of growth rate and total protein content as biomarkers for contamination by endosulfan and aldicarb. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.