Effects of elevated temperature and decreased soil moisture content on triclosan ecotoxicity to earthworm E. fetida

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-04, Vol.30 (17), p.51018-51029
• Main Authors: Miškelytė, Diana, Žaltauskaitė, Jūratė
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial agents; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Climate change; Climatic conditions; Drought; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Global climate; Growth rate; High temperature; Life cycles; Moisture content; Moisture effects; Oligochaeta; Organisms; Reproduction; Research Article; Soil; Soil contamination; Soil moisture; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil pollution; Soil temperature; Survival; Temperature; Terrestrial environments; Toxicity; Triclosan; Triclosan - toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water content; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Worms
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25951-4

Emerging pollutants and climate change are two main challenges affecting soil organisms today. Changes in temperature and soil moisture with climate change are key factors determining activity and fitness of soil dwelling organisms. The occurrence and toxicity of antimicrobial agent triclosan (TCS) in terrestrial environment is of high concern, while no data are available on TCS toxicity changes to terrestrial organisms under global climate change. The study’s aim was to assess the impact of elevated temperature, decreased soil moisture content, and their complex interaction on triclosan-induced changes in Eisenia fetida life cycle parameters (growth, reproduction, and survival). Eight-week TCS-contaminated soil (10–750 mg TCS kg −1 ) experiments with E. fetida were performed at four different treatments: C (21 °C + 60% water holding capacity (WHC)); D (21 °C and 30% WHC); T (25 °C + 60% WHC); and T + D (25 °C + 30% WHC). TCS had negative impact on the earthworm mortality, growth, and reproduction. Changing climate conditions have altered TCS toxicity to E. fetida . Drought and drought in combination with elevated temperature enhanced the adverse effects of TCS on earthworm survival, growth rate, and reproduction, while single elevated temperature slightly reduced TCS lethal toxicity as well as toxicity to growth rate and reproduction.