Toxicity and uptake of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in three different soils (OECD soil, natural soil and loess) to earthworm (Eisenia fetida) were investigated at several different spiked concentrations of TNT (0 to 200 mg/kg for OECD and natural soils, and 0 to 35 mg/kg for loess) and for different exposure periods (7, 14, 21, and 28 d). The LC₅₀ values for 7 d exposure were 160.1, 159.4, and 28.81 mg/kg for OECD soil, natural soil, and loess, respectively. The LC₅₀ values for 14, 21, and 28 d exposure were almost the same as those for 7 d exposure, showing that 7 d exposure time was enough to decide the toxicity (LC₅₀) of TNT to Eisenia fetida, because the highest concentration of TNT in earthworm body was observed within around 5 d. The LC₅₀ and uptake of TNT in loess were higher than those in OECD and natural soil. The uptake of TNT to the earthworm were correlated well with the initial concentration of TNT in the soil and TNT porewater concentration (R²> 0.9 in OECD, natural, and loess). The concentration of TNT in earthworm body decreased after 5 d, possibly caused by natural degradation of TNT by soil bacteria as well as earthworm.

Keywords: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene;Eisenia fetida;Soil;Toxicity;Uptake;