Mercury concentrations in earthworms lumbricus terresteris as related to soil concentrations of the metal

CHED 1107

Jennifer Wallach1, Amy McLaughlin1, Alfred C. Nichols, anichols@jsu.edu2, and David A. Steffy2. (1) Department of Chemistry, Jacksonville State University, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, AL 36265, (2) Department of Physical and Earth Sciences, Jacksonville State University, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, AL 36265
Earthworms can bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) when grown in Hg contaminated soil (Ernst and Frey, 2007). Earthworms, Lumbricus terresteris, were grown in soils with different Hg concentrations. At two week intervals, worms grown at the different concentrations were analyzed for total Hg using USEPA method 245.1, manual cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Worms grown in soil with an Hg concentration of 0.031 µg/g had a tissue Hg concentration of 0.073 ± 0.094 (mean ± S.D.) µg of Hg per g of freeze-dried tissue. Worms grown in soil with an Hg concentration of 2.15 µg/g had a mean Hg tissue concentration of 219.030 ± 42.920 µg/g. Worms exposed to a soil Hg concentration of 4.37 µg/g had a tissue concentration of 319.030 ± 72.807 µg/g. ANOVA analysis of the data produced a P value of <0.0001. Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test produced a P value of <0.001 for comparisons between any two of the three groups.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008