Mixture toxicity and tissue interactions of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in earthworms (Oligochaeta) in laboratory and field soils: a critical evaluation of data.

Soil organisms inhabiting contaminated field sites are usually exposed to mixtures of toxicants. In such mixtures, toxicants can interact to express enhanced or weakened toxicity. Therefore, mixture effects should be considered in risk assessment methods for polluted soils. Data on mixture toxicity to soil organisms are scarce, however. In this paper, data on sublethal toxicity and tissue concentrations of Cd. Cu, Pb and Zn mixtures in earthworms are evaluated and compared with data on other organisms. Toxic effects were mainly antagonistic for total soil concentrations and nearly concentration-additive for 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable soil concentrations. Evidence to support concentration-additive behaviour of metals was found in interaction patterns within earthworm tissues. A method is proposed to assess the sublethal toxicity of metal mixtures in field soils to earthworms, based on single metal experiments from the laboratory. Finally, suggestions are made on how to incorporate mixture toxicity in risk assessment for polluted soils.