| Abstrakt: |
The bait-lamina method is a functional test method which is successfully used in field monitoring studies to assess the feeding activity of soil organisms. This endpoint addresses an important soil function and service: nutrient cycling. Therefore, the test has recently been standardized by the International Organization for Standardization. In the approach presented here, the bait strips were used in the laboratory as an additional endpoint in the standard earthworm reproduction test, regularly performed for the registration of chemicals as well as in soil assessment. The combined test was performed with the model chemicals zinc nitrate and tributyltin-oxide (TBT-O) in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development artificial soil and eight natural soils. It was checked whether the results, available after 1 week, could be used to predict the effects of the chemicals on earthworm reproduction, available after 8 weeks. Out of 15 comparisons of EC50 values made in this study, in six of them there was no difference. In four cases the feeding rate was more sensitive and in five cases it was the other way around. The bait-lamina earthworm test (BLET) could be performed in the laboratory either as a screening tool for estimating the range of chronic ecotoxicity of chemicals or for testing the habitat quality of potentially contaminated soils (e.g. as part of a quick “on-site” analysis). Further research, mainly the preparation of a standard stand-alone BLET, its application on chemicals with different mode-of-actions, and the definition of a reference substance as a positive control, is needed. |
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