Synergistic ecotoxicity of nanoscale zero-valent iron and cadmium in soil: Insights from Eisenia fetida.

Nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) has been extensively applied as a soil conditioner in remediation practices. However, studies have suggested that excessive doses of nZVI can adversely affect soil organisms and even exacerbate the toxicity of contaminants such as cadmium (Cd) in earthworms. This study investigated whether nZVI induces stress and exacerbates Cd toxicity in Eisenia fetida under controlled laboratory conditions. Four treatments were established: control (no nZVI or Cd), nZVI (10 g∙kg⁻¹), Cd (30 mg∙kg⁻¹), and Cd-nZVI (30 mg∙kg⁻¹ Cd + 10 g∙kg⁻¹ nZVI). Survival rate, biomass, Cd bioaccumulation, enzyme activity, and other indicators were measured. On day 7 of exposure, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the nZVI, Cd, and Cd-nZVI groups were 1.4-, 1.5-, and 1.6-fold higher than those in the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). Over time, both survival rate and biomass declined, with the lowest survival rate and greatest biomass loss observed in the Cd-nZVI group on day 28. Histological staining revealed that under Cd or nZVI stress, the circular muscle layer of the earthworms was loosened, intestinal tissue was partially detached, and the number of villi decreased. Metagenomic sequencing indicated significant alterations in the community structure of the earthworm intestinal microbiota under different treatments. Both 30 mg∙kg⁻¹ Cd and 10 g∙kg⁻¹ nZVI disrupted gut microbial balance, which was further exacerbated by combined exposure.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

• Publication date

  2025-11-01

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119381PMID 41218490
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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