Toxicological effects of aflatoxin B1 on the earthworm Eisenia fetida as determined in a contact paper test.

In this study, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity toward the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826) was evaluated in contact paper test systems containing distilled water and ethanol or 20 to 400 μg/ml of AFB1 over 72 h of exposure. The results indicated that AFB1 could induce significant damage to earthworms (coiling, curling, excessive mucus secretion, clitellum swelling) at greater than 75 μg/ml. Moreover, AFB1 had harmful effects on E. fetida (degenerative changes such as bulging of the clitella regions) at levels higher than 150 μg/ml. The calculated LD50 was 168.5 μg/ml. These findings confirm that E. fetida and standardized methods based on this organism (OECD 207 1984) are applicable and useful in mycotoxin related toxicity studies.