Ecotoxicological assessment of gasoline and diesel oil in soil using the bioindicators Folsomia candida and Enchytraeus crypticus
TL;DR
Evaluated the chronic ecotoxicological effects of gasoline and diesel oil on the soil invertebrates Folsomia candida and Enchytraeus crypticus using Tropical Artificial Soil to demonstrate the importance of using multiple bioindicator species to improve environmental risk assessments in petroleum-contaminated tropical soils.
Abstract
Soil contamination by petroleum-derived fuels represents a significant environmental concern, particularly in regions with high densities of fuel stations. This study evaluated the chronic ecotoxicological effects of gasoline and diesel oil on the soil invertebrates Folsomia candida and Enchytraeus crypticus using Tropical Artificial Soil (TAS). Reproduction was used as the primary endpoint to assess sublethal toxicity across a range of concentrations. Both fuels caused significant dose-dependent reductions in reproduction for the two species, while survival remained unaffected. Effects were observed at the lowest tested concentration (0.00625 mL kg⁻¹), indicating high sensitivity of soil invertebrates to petroleum-derived contaminants. Enchytraeus crypticus exhibited greater sensitivity than Folsomia candida, and diesel oil showed higher toxicity at lower concentrations, whereas gasoline produced more pronounced effects at higher exposure levels. These findings highlight the ecological relevance of chronic ecotoxicological assays and demonstrate the importance of using multiple bioindicator species to improve environmental risk assessments in petroleum-contaminated tropical soils.