Establishment of a laboratory method to characterise the ecotoxicity of a polluted soil

IRG/WP 98-50101-23

P Martinet

This method consists in using the underground grub of the Oxythyrea funesta beetle as a bioindicator of the soils pollution. Due to the significant tolerance of the organism, a large type of substrate of different nature and grain size could have been studied. We have tested substances and preparations such as wood preservation products even under powder or liquid form but also some wastes of different nature as well as samples of polluted soils. Quick ten days lasting and decisive test, the lecture criteria are from one hand acute, based on death rate but, on another hand subacute. The grubs, when they are used, are in a phase of high development since their weight can increase five times during the test period. The answer to the toxic substances is a drift of the weight variation which enable to obtain more precise results, with much lower doses than acute criteria allow. Taking into account the results already obtained as well as sensitivity, repetability and reproductibility terms, we consider the future of this method with optimism.


Keywords: SOIL; WASTES; ECOTOXICITY; POLLUTION; TREATED WOOD; LCA; MODELISATION

Conference: 98-02-02/03 Cannes-Mandelieu, France


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