Improving Survival Of Earthworm In Polluted Soil With Heavy Metals

In the world today, pollution of different kinds is being abundant and distributed throughout the world. These pollutions include land, water, and soil pollution to mention a few. One of which that contributes in this continuous phenomenon is the contamination of heavy metals on all aspects. Heavy metals such as Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), etc., affect all life on Earth in a negative way. Contamination of water sources and soils could bring potential danger to whoever might consume this. In soil pollution, our agricultural industry, which is the main source of our world’s food supply (“Agriculture, Food and Water”), is being affected tremendously by many factors, including heavy metals. The heavy metals cadmium, lead, methyl mercury, a specific form of mercury, and arsenic pose a greater threat to our health as it targets from prenatal development and infancy, up to almost all the parts of our body (Zwolak et al. 2019). Lead, a specific type of heavy metal, could potentially be distributed into the soil making it unsafe for anyone who comes in contact. Children below 3 years old could possibly absorb the heavy metal in the contaminated soil either by mouthing dirty items such as their toys and their fingers after playing or the substance could be transferred into the planted vegetables and fruits which would eventually be available for consumption. Lead’s possible effects on the body are as follows: cardiovascular diseases, kidney and liver dysfunctions, immune and reproductive system disorders, and the disruption iron, copper, zinc, and vitamin D metabolism (Stehouwer 2010; Zwolak et al. 2019). In short, our world is being attacked by different phenomenon, such as pollution, and it is up for the people to act on it and gain an edge to eradicate this problem, not waiting for technology to evolve and let it help in the future.

The contamination of heavy metals, throughout the world, pose a great threat not only to humans, but also to the health of other animals. A few observable causes of this problem are the rapid shift of industrialization, continuous population growth around the world, and escalated agriculture. Having to accumulate heavy metals results to having ecosystem defectivity and soil mortification. These results end up getting into the polluted soil, water, and air, causing contamination in our basic needs that includes food and water supply and the air that we breathe. Around the world, it is estimated that there are approximately more than 10 million sites of soil pollution. More than 50% of which actually contains heavy metals such as arsenic and/or other metalloids. The potential impact of this pollution is estimated to be more than US $10 billion (or roughly ₱500 billion) per year. It is looked through that the sources of the heavy metal pollution are either of the natural or anthropogenic activities. Natural processes include the soil inheriting some heavy metal contents on rocks such as serpentine and black shale which are actually metal-enriched. The anthropogenic activities include mining, burning of fossil fuels, corrosion, etc, (He et al. 2015). With this information in hand, it means that the heavy metal contamination is getting severe throughout the world and is rapidly increasing in terms of area polluted.

Heavy metal pollution is already becoming a big concern as it is scattered to almost the majority of all the continents. This problem is seen in some parts of the countries included in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. In terms of general heavy metal/metalloid-polluted soil places, North America is observed to have the most sites with >100,000, followed by the European Union with >80,000, then by Australia with > 50,000, and lastly Asia which only has 1.0 million square kilometers of polluted soil. But in terms of the concentration of heavy metals/metalloids, Asia leads with over 80%, followed by North America with >50%, then by Australia >60%. The least percentage of concentration is the European which only has 37%. It is also observed that the second most abundant heavy metal in the chosen continents (Asia, Oceania, Europe, North America) is actually lead (Pb). Having over 333 mg/kg content (not including UK since it has no findings of lead-polluted soil) average. It is handed on the different government’s responsibility to implement actions towards this problem. Actions that must be implemented is controlling the source where heavy metals/metalloids are actually obtain and of course finding ways on how to remediate this pollution. Overall, not only the said continents must act upon it but the whole world must take a hand to resolve this problem. By helping each other onto brainstorming ideas on how to remove these, the problem should be resolved faster, easier, and earlier.

Since it is known that Asia has the most concentrated heavy metal contamination in all of the continents, it shows which particular regions the problem really exists. The main regions of Asia include the following: Southeast Asia, East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southwest Asia. The region that has the most concentrated pollution is East Asia. East Asia include countries such as Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, North and South Korea, Taiwan, and China, which has the most concentrated sites. In some studies, China, which is included in East Asia, seems to be very ironic. It has the smallest land area among the leading countries with high rates of heavy metal pollution and yet it has the highest concentration of heavy metals (He et al. 2015). Not only does East Asia experience this type of pollution but also of some countries in Southeast Asia. These countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It was found out that these countries are not only contaminated with heavy metals but also of coliform bacteria (Hungspreugs). This means that for the past few years, due to increased population growth, intense industrialization, and for some other reasons, the pollution in every region is getting severe and should be controlled as soon as possible. Not taking actions quick could cause big-time consequences.

The countries, specifically in Southeast Asia and East Asia, are already experiencing the increased in pollution such as heavy metals and other impurities. It was investigated that in Thailand, it was found out that some crops and soils were containing heavy metals. They were containing atleast a portion of each heavy metals. The ones that showed strong signs of the metals which were actually Cadmium (Cd) and Zinc (Zn), (Zarcinas et al.). In the other hand, Korea and Japan’s rice paddy soils and the rice were shown to have been contaminated with heavy metals such as lead and cadmium to say a few. China, being the largest country among the two regions, actually contains nearly 20 million hectares of farming field that was observed to contain heavy metals. The most abundant and looked to as the most serious problem in Liaoning province is the heavy metal Cadmium (Cd). This was said to have potential damage on human health. It is also showed in one study that the mined area in Guandong province greatly affects surrounding farmlands due to long-term mining and releasing of untreated water (Luo et al.). This shows that heavy metals are spreading from regions to regions fast. Other parts of Asia’s regions are actually having a severe heavy metal pollution and are needing serious actions as soon as possible as it may pose danger to communities near the place.

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As the world is continuously being distributed with heavy metal pollution, either in land, air, water, or soil, our country, the Philippines, is not an exception in this growing problem. The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia that is also affect by the pollution of heavy metals which is mainly due to anthropogenic activity such as mining. Provinces near the mining sites were greatly affected the most, mainly those with crop fields, as the contaminated water from the site gets transferred into the soil, making it polluted. In Quezon City, Philippines, the findings concluded that the concentrations of heavy metals were in higher concentrations due to man-made activities than natural activities. It was also shown that the soils in urban contain higher concentrations of heavy metals than less-disturbed areas. The reason behind this that is being looked out is the rapid urbanization (Navarrete et al. 2017). Going south of the country, it is also heavily polluted. In Sibutad, Philippines, the research is mainly conducted on the knowledge of heavy metals’ effect on nematodes. Nematodes are often known to be the most abundant invertebrates in the soil. They are studied for further since they reflect the soil health in which they are placed. Overall, the Philippines, mainly due to mining activities and industrialization, pose a threat not only to those people who occupy the polluted areas, but also of the creatures living within the polluted soils.

Thankfully, in today’s time, there were already few studies conducted that would help in determining solutions for these problems. Ideas which would probably lessen, if it is not totally remove, the heavy metal pollution. One of these solutions which is being seen to have a potential in decreasing the concentration levels of the heavy metal is through ‘dilution technique’. Basically, the dilution technique determines the level of heavy metal content on the material and tries to decrease the metal levels into the standards of pollutant regulation (Vogl et al.). Another solution for this growing problem is the process called the ‘phytoremediation’. Phytoremediation is a process consisting of plants in reducing the concentration of toxic effects in the environment. It is found by researchers as cost-effective, eco-friendly, efficient, and good for public acceptance (Ali et al.). Another solution could be the use of EDTA solutions to remove heavy metals through chelation. Chelation is the process wherein it binds metal ions, such as heavy metals (Healthwise Staff et al. 2017). As of now, there are a lot of ways where it is very simple and affordable on eradicating the heavy metal pollution. There’s still more to discover on solutions which is the safest, most efficient, and most effective, it is all in the matter of time.

Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, more commonly known as EDTA calcium disodium or Calcium disodium edetate, is looked as a potential in remediating heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) through chelation process. Basic definition of chelation suggest binding molecules with metal ions in order to remove heavy metals from the place of origin, such as in human’s bloodstream. The Calcium disodium edetate is shown to have a positive effects on the body. It targets and mobilizes lead in some parts of our body including our bones, kidneys, and liver. Study shows that the Calcium disodium edetate, combined with British Anti-Lewisite, could potentially remove lead at the same time the treatment of lead encephalopathy. It is also found that it is the preferred chelating in people experiencing pregnancy. Although it does many benefits, the calcium disodium edetate also have bad effects such as damage to the kidneys, hypokalemia, and decrease of zinc and copper needed in our body. One suggested way on how to reduce these effects is through sufficient hydration (Kianoush et al. 2015). With this in mind, Calcium disodium edetate is surely a chelating agent which should be researched more since it is already proven to have the ability to remove heavy metals. It is beneficial to the human body, and maybe in the future, it could also be used to regulate heavy metals in other perspective such as in the polluted soil. It might save not only us, but also creatures which maintain the quality of soil, such as the earthworms.

Earthworms, is widely know to have a lot of benefits in the soil. It gives out nutrients needed by the plants through the soil. The soil in which the earthworms are thriving is actually being improved as any unwanted debris (dead roots, leaves, grasses, manure) throughout the soil is being of good use. The earthworms consume these debris and in turn, gives concentrated nutrients that will be absorbed by the soil. The common earthworm, scientifically known as Lumbricus terrestrisI, is a candidate for bioaccumulation of heavy metals. In one study, is is shown that the common earthworm is responsible for the decreased value of heavy metals such as Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb). The process that the earthworms used in order to reduce the heavy metals from the soil is bioaccumulation (Capowiez, 2018). Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of substance, such as heavy metals, inside the body of organisms. At high concentrations, the bioaccumulation is life-threatening to the host/body. Therefore, earthworms could be a topic of interest in providing quality of the soil and removing of heavy metals in it, purifying the soil. Studies must be conducted further in trying to find ways on how to decrease the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in common earthworms that could cause death to the creature.

This study is consisting of finding ways in eradicating heavy metals in soil through the chelating agent Calcium disodium edetate. At the same time, it will be using the specific type of earthworm (Lumbricus terrestrisI) in the study to further promote the quality of soil. The study must show that there is a large decrease of lead content in the soil, if not totally removed, through the use of the said chelating agent. The earthworms would be collected in a vermicomposting farm in order to make sure it is cultured to avoid confusion of species. The research study will further focus on the improving the ways on how to chelate the heavy metal lead (Pb) with the EDTA calcium disodium. The experiments that will be conducted by the researchers in order to test the possible effectively is through the edta calcium disodium measurement. The measurements will vary, which will also mean the variation of concentration of the chelating agents which will be countered by other factors such as higher volume of water mixed with the solution. Overall, the researchers would like to add knowledge on the potential use of edta solutions, specifically the calcium disodium edetate, in the field of heavy metal remediation. Also, the study would provide information on the availability of heavy metals in the soil after the research was conducted. So in conclusion, this research study is supposed to help inform the public and the future researchers in terms of the effects of calcium disodium edetate on the health of the common earthworm and the effectivity of it remediating heavy metals in lead-polluted soils.