occurrence and the activities of LDH, CAT and AChE. Histological and enzymatic
alterations were detected as soon as after 24-h exposures [37]. The suitability of the
indigenous earthworm, Perionyx excavates, and the exotic one, E. eugeniae, was
contrasted in a vermistabilisation study using combined mixtures of sludge from
textile mill sludge (TMS) and cow dung at different ratios, and the biomarker MT
content and histology damage were contrasted in the two epigeic species [38]. A
higher MT content was revealed in the non-native E. eugeniae, and the mixture
TMS/cow dung (1:1) resulted in a reduced histological damage in respect to when
the exposure consisted exclusively of TMS.
Prior to the application of biomarkers to assess toxicity of cocktail contaminant
mixtures, and in the context of wastewater recycling for agricultural practices, an
adaptation of the OECD filter paper contact test was conducted with L. terrestris.
The selected chemicals (lamotrigine and cocaine) had been previously detected in
TWW from the urban catchment of a major NW Mediterranean city or are a cause of
concern to wildlife species (fipronil). This approach considered independent exposures to non-realistic concentration of the chemicals in order to unequivocally
identify metabolites with the current techniques available and to recommend adequate biomarkers. The biomarkers tested in the earthworm whole tissue homogenate
were GST, AChE and CEs (using four different substrates as suggestive of several
isozymes); a group of unexposed organism was considered as reference, and another
one treated with the OP pesticide bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) was used as
positive control. Confirmation of the exposures (although not environmentally
relevant) and metabolism was complemented with the analysis of the parent compounds and the identification of the metabolites in the same whole tissue
homogenates [39].
6 Biomarkers of Assessing Pharmaceuticals and Personal
Care Product Exposure
Within the frame of water recycling for agricultural practices, the presence of urban
pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products (PPCPs) in TWW has alerted for
the potential transfer of these drugs to crops and the problem of antibiotic resistance
in the exposed population. Concern on the negative impact of PPCPs also implies
soil-dwelling organisms, considered valuable engineers for their beneficial role in
improving soil biochemistry. The impacts on earthworms due to PPCPs have been
studied under controlled laboratory conditions. The antihypertensive drug valsartan
was selected due to its notable presence in TWW of a Mediterranean urban region
[40], and L. terrestris was the sentinel exposed in soil contaminated with this drug.
The dynamics of the drug (in the presence or absence of the earthworms) were
followed up, and several biomarkers of exposure were determined over a 21-day
period in the whole body homogenate of the earthworms. Earthworm enzymatic
activities were related to soil biochemistry, microbial diversity and drug presence in
326
M. Solé
alterations were detected as soon as after 24-h exposures [37]. The suitability of the
indigenous earthworm, Perionyx excavates, and the exotic one, E. eugeniae, was
contrasted in a vermistabilisation study using combined mixtures of sludge from
textile mill sludge (TMS) and cow dung at different ratios, and the biomarker MT
content and histology damage were contrasted in the two epigeic species [38]. A
higher MT content was revealed in the non-native E. eugeniae, and the mixture
TMS/cow dung (1:1) resulted in a reduced histological damage in respect to when
the exposure consisted exclusively of TMS.
Prior to the application of biomarkers to assess toxicity of cocktail contaminant
mixtures, and in the context of wastewater recycling for agricultural practices, an
adaptation of the OECD filter paper contact test was conducted with L. terrestris.
The selected chemicals (lamotrigine and cocaine) had been previously detected in
TWW from the urban catchment of a major NW Mediterranean city or are a cause of
concern to wildlife species (fipronil). This approach considered independent exposures to non-realistic concentration of the chemicals in order to unequivocally
identify metabolites with the current techniques available and to recommend adequate biomarkers. The biomarkers tested in the earthworm whole tissue homogenate
were GST, AChE and CEs (using four different substrates as suggestive of several
isozymes); a group of unexposed organism was considered as reference, and another
one treated with the OP pesticide bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) was used as
positive control. Confirmation of the exposures (although not environmentally
relevant) and metabolism was complemented with the analysis of the parent compounds and the identification of the metabolites in the same whole tissue
homogenates [39].
6 Biomarkers of Assessing Pharmaceuticals and Personal
Care Product Exposure
Within the frame of water recycling for agricultural practices, the presence of urban
pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products (PPCPs) in TWW has alerted for
the potential transfer of these drugs to crops and the problem of antibiotic resistance
in the exposed population. Concern on the negative impact of PPCPs also implies
soil-dwelling organisms, considered valuable engineers for their beneficial role in
improving soil biochemistry. The impacts on earthworms due to PPCPs have been
studied under controlled laboratory conditions. The antihypertensive drug valsartan
was selected due to its notable presence in TWW of a Mediterranean urban region
[40], and L. terrestris was the sentinel exposed in soil contaminated with this drug.
The dynamics of the drug (in the presence or absence of the earthworms) were
followed up, and several biomarkers of exposure were determined over a 21-day
period in the whole body homogenate of the earthworms. Earthworm enzymatic
activities were related to soil biochemistry, microbial diversity and drug presence in
326
M. Solé