Epigenetic regulations enhance adaptability and valorization efficiency in Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae during vermicomposting of textile sludge: Insights on repair mechanisms of metal-induced genetic damage and oxidative stress

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2022-02, Vol.345, p.126493-126493, Article 126493
• Main Authors: Paul, Sarmistha, Goswami, Linee, Pegu, Ratul, Kumar Chatterjee, Subhendu, Sundar Bhattacharya, Satya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cattle; Earthworm; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenetic stress regulation; Female; Genotoxicity; Metal accumulation; Oligochaeta - genetics; Oxidative Stress; Sewage; Soil; Textile sludge; Textiles
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126493

•Metal-rich textile sludge induced oxidative stress and DNA-damage in earthworms.•Earthworms restore genetic integrity through epigenetic regulations in vermibeds.•Cotton sludge induced greater toxicity than silk processing sludge to earthworms.•Eisenia was a healthier choice than Eudrilus for valorization of textile sludge.•Proportion of cow dung in the feedstock is vital for vermiremediation of sludge. Genotoxicity-based assessments of vermitechnology for textile-sludge valorization have rarely been attempted. Therefore, waste sanitization and epigenetic stress-regulation efficiency of Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae were evaluated in silk (DSPS) and cotton (CPWS) processing sludge-based vermibeds. Vermicomposting resulted in greater C, N, and P recovery than composting. Earthworm population reduced by 6–50% in DSPS/CPWS, while it significantly increased in cow dung (CD) mixed DSPS/CPWS. The Cr, Cd, Pb, and Zn accumulation efficiency of earthworms was higher in DSPS-based feedstocks than CPWS. However, metal-rich sludge elevated oxidative stress, causing greater inhibition of cell viability and DNA damage in Eudrilus than in Eisenia. Although histo-architecture of chloragogenous tissues was perturbed, earthworms combatted metal-induced lipid peroxidation via the activation of catalase, superoxide-dismutase, and reduced-glutathione. Correlation statistics revealed that genetic integrity in earthworms was restored through DNA-methyltransferase activity, especially in DSPS/CPWS + CD vermibeds. Overall, Eisenia was a healthier choice than Eudrilus for sustainable valorization of textile-sludge.