Informal recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) contaminates local environments with metals and other organic compounds. The adverse effects on native earthworm populations are poorly understood. The objective of the present study was to determine metal concentrations in soils from e-waste activity sites in Douala (Cameroon) and assess the effects of these soils on the growth and reproduction of the local earthworm, Alma nilotica. Concentrations of nine metals (arsenic [As], cadmium [Cd], cobalt [Co], chromium [Cr], copper [Cu], mercury [Hg], nickel [Ni], lead [Pb], and zinc [Zn]) were measured in soil samples collected from eight e-waste activity and two non–e-waste sites. Earthworms were then exposed to these soils in the laboratory following test guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Metal concentrations in the e-waste–contaminated soils were significantly higher than in the non–e-waste soils. The e-waste soils were found to have a different soil metal profile (Cu > Pb > Zn > Cr > Ni > Co > As > Cd > Hg) from that of the non–e-waste soils (Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > As > Cd > Co > Hg). Earthworm growth and reproduction were significantly inhibited in organisms exposed to soils from e-waste sites. Reproduction was particularly affected, with a mean of 8 ± 5.6 offspring/10 worms in the e-waste–exposed worm groups compared with 90.5 ± 0.7 in non–e-waste soil worms. Notably, earthworm growth recovered during depuration in clean soil, indicating the possibility of remediation activities. The results demonstrate that soils at e-waste sites can affect the health of resident worm populations, which may be more sensitive than temperate species. They also highlight the potential of a bioassay-based approach in monitoring risks at e-waste sites. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:287–297. © 2021 SETAC

中文翻译：

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电子电气废物污染土壤对蚯蚓（Alma nilotica）生长和繁殖的影响

电子废物（电子废物）的非正式回收利用金属和其他有机化合物污染当地环境。对本地蚯蚓种群的不利影响知之甚少。本研究的目的是确定杜阿拉（喀麦隆）电子废物活动场所土壤中的金属浓度，并评估这些土壤对当地蚯蚓Alma nilotica生长和繁殖的影响. 九种金属的浓度（砷 [As]、镉 [Cd]、钴 [Co]、铬 [Cr]、铜 [Cu]、汞 [Hg]、镍 [Ni]、铅 [Pb] 和锌 [Zn] ) 在从八个电子废物活动和两个非电子废物站点收集的土壤样本中进行测量。然后按照经济合作与发展组织的测试指南，在实验室中将蚯蚓暴露在这些土壤中。电子垃圾污染土壤中的金属浓度显着高于非电子垃圾土壤。发现电子垃圾土壤与非电子垃圾土壤具有不同的土壤金属分布（Cu > Pb > Zn > Cr > Ni > Co > As > Cd > Hg）（Zn > Cr > Cu >铅 > 镍 > 砷 > 镉 > 钴 > 汞）。暴露于电子垃圾场土壤的生物体中蚯蚓的生长和繁殖受到显着抑制。生殖尤其受到影响，平均为 8 暴露于电子垃圾的蠕虫组中有±  5.6 个后代/10 只蠕虫，而非电子垃圾土壤蠕虫组为 90.5 ± 0.7。值得注意的是，在清洁土壤的净化过程中，蚯蚓的生长恢复了，这表明修复活动的可能性。结果表明，电子垃圾场的土壤会影响常驻蠕虫种群的健康，这可能比温带物种更敏感。他们还强调了基于生物测定的方法在监测电子废物场所风险方面的潜力。环境毒物化学2022；41：287–297。© 2021 SETAC