Use of Bioassays to Evaluate the Effect of Acute Toxicity, Reproduction and Increase of Biomass of Earthworms Eisenia fetida in Acclimated Domestic Domestic Sewage Sludge

Abstract

As main objective, this work evaluates the effect of the sewage sludge on the acute toxicity, reproduction and on the increase of biomass of earthworms Eisenia fetida. The results showed that none of the initial matrices (sewage sludge itself or mixed with soil) presented acute toxicity for the earthworms nor interfere in a negative way on the increase of biomass during the first 14 days. However after this period the organisms tended to lose weight.