Ecotoxicological bioassays as complementary tools for the risk assessment of contaminated soils

Ecotoxicological bioassays prove invaluable for assessing the ecological risks of contaminated soils, offering a more comprehensive and realistic evaluation than traditional chemical analysis alone. This study demonstrates that integrating terrestrial and aquatic ecotoxicity tests—encompassing various endpoints (mortality, growth), exposure times (acute or chronic), and organisms (earthworms, plants, algae, etc.)—effectively captures the complex interactions between pollutants, soil matrices, and living organisms. Applied to samples from abandoned mercury mines in Spain (Almadén and Idrija) and other contaminated sites, these bioassays reveal critical insights into toxicity parameters and ecological impacts, including those of hydrocarbons and the insecticide imidacloprid. The research highlights their suitability as essential tools for soil risk assessment and remediation monitoring, bridging gaps left by conventional chemical quantification methods.

Bori Dols, J. Ecotoxicological bioassays as complementary tools for the risk assessment of contaminated soils. https://doi.org/10.5821/dissertation-2117-109817