Comparison of solid and liquid-phase bioassays using ecoscores to assess contaminated soils

Christine Lors (1, 2) , Jean-François Ponge (3) , Maite Martínez Aldaya (3) , Denis Damidot (1)

1 CERI MP - IMT Nord Europe - Centre for Materials and Processes
2 LGCgE - Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement (LGCgE) - ULR 4515
3 MAOAC - Mécanismes adaptatifs : des organismes aux communautés

Bioassays on aqueous and solid phases of contaminated soils were compared, belonging to a wide array of trophic and response levels and using ecoscores for evaluating ecotoxicological and genotoxicological endpoints. The method was applied to four coke factory soils contaminated mainly with PAHs, but also to a lesser extent by heavy metals and cyanides. Aquatic bioassays do not differ from terrestrial bioassays when scaling soils according to toxicity but they are complementary from the viewpoint of ecological relevance. Both aquatic and terrestrial endpoints are strongly correlated with concentrations of 3-ring PAHs. This evaluation procedure allows us to propose a cost-effective battery which embraces a wide array of test organisms and response levels: it includes two rapid bioassays (Microtox(®) and springtail avoidance), a micronucleus test and three bioassays of a longer duration (algal growth, lettuce germination and springtail reproduction). This battery can be recommended for a cost-effective assessment of polluted/remediated soils.

Mots clés: PAHs; heavy metals; contaminated soils; solid-phase bioassays; liquid-phase bioassays; toxicity; ecoscores

Domaines: Science des sols

Christine Lors, Jean-François Ponge, Maite Martínez Aldaya, Denis Damidot. Comparison of solid and liquid-phase bioassays using ecoscores to assess contaminated soils. Environmental Pollution, 2011, 159 (10), pp.2974-2981. ⟨10.1016/j.envpol.2011.04.028⟩. ⟨hal-00618446⟩