Sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) is the main chemical component in several lubricant products used for soil conditioning in the mechanized excavation industry using Earth Pressure Balance-Tunnel Boring Machines. During the tunnelling process, huge amounts of excavated soil are produced and the SLES presence can affect the subsequent re-use of this material as a by-product. Currently, there is still no regulatory indication of reliable and sensitive bioassays for monitoring soil quality during the excavation process. The main objective of this work was to verify if the Vibrio fischeri screening test was suitable as a consistent and precautionary tool for this specific purpose. Firstly, the ecotoxicity (EC₂₀ and EC₅₀) of the SLES standard solution and three commercial products (SLES content from 10 to 50%) were evaluated to select the most environmental friendly product. Subsequently, soil samples from about 2 years of tunnelling in a real construction site, conditioned with the selected product, were evaluated for their environmental compatibility with the prescriptions of an Italian site-specific protocol. The latter established 2 mg/L as a threshold value for SLES concentration in soil water extracts and a no toxic response (≤20%) for the Vibrio fischeri test. The comparison of the bacterium bioluminescence inhibition values (%) with analytical determinations showed an ecotoxicity when SLES was >2 mg/L. The toxicity was directly related to SLES concentration, indicating that the V. fischeri test and the SLES analyses are suitable tools for assessing excavated soil as a by-product, ensuring its safe reuse in accordance with a green production process (circular economy).

月桂基醚硫酸钠（SLES）是用于机械挖掘行业中使用土压平衡隧道掘进机进行土壤调节的几种润滑剂产品中的主要化学成分。在掘进过程中，会产生大量挖掘的土壤，SLES的存在会影响后续作为副产品使用此材料。目前，在挖掘过程中，尚无监管指示来监测土壤质量的可靠而灵敏的生物测定。这项工作的主要目的是验证费氏弧菌筛查测试是否适合作为用于此特定目的的一致且预防性的工具。首先是生态毒性（EC ₂₀和EC ₅₀）的SLES标准溶液和三种商业产品（SLES含量从10％到50％）进行了评估，以选择最环保的产品。随后，在实际建筑工地中，以所选产品为条件，在大约2年的隧道掘进过程中，对土壤样品的环境相容性进行了评估，符合意大利特定地点协议的规定。后者确定了2 mg / L作为土壤水提取物中SLES浓度的阈值，并且对于费氏弧菌测试没有毒性反应（≤20％）。当SLES> 2 mg / L时，细菌生物发光抑制值（％）与分析测定值的比较显示出生态毒性。毒性与SLES浓度直接相关，表明费氏弧菌 测试和SLES分析是评估挖出的土壤作为副产品的合适工具，可确保根据绿色生产流程（循环经济）对其进行安全再利用。