Title: Effects of earthworm activity on heavy metals in sewage sludge.
Abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of earthworm activity on heavy metals in sewage sludge. Results showed the parameters such as pH,water content,organic carbon,Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorous were lower in case of treated sewage sludge than primary sewage sludge. Earthworms could accumulate heavy metals of sewage sludge. The bio-concentration factor of Cd in earthworm was higher than other heavy metals. The reduction in metal content(as compared to initial level) was in the order:32.81%(Pb)31.46%(Zn)27.98%(Cr)23.86%(Cu)22.92%(Ni)13.85%(Cd). It was clear that heavy metal loss was caused by the presence of earthworms. A pot-culture experiment was conducted to study the concentrations of heavy metals to lettuce,grown in soil amended with sewage sludge with and without earthworm treatment. Zn,Cu,Pb and Ni concentrations in lettuce were higher in case of primary sewage sludge than treated sewage sludge,while Cr had no change and Cd was found to decrease slightly.
Publication Year: 2010
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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