Copper iodide

Toxicity to soil microorganisms

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to soil microorganisms

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Already evaluated by the Competent Authorities for Biocides and Existing Substance Regulations.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Residual effects of zinc, copper and nickel in sewage sludge on microbial biomass in a sandy loam

Author:

Chander, K. and Brookes, P.C.

Year:

1993

Bibliographic source:

Soil Biol. Biochem. 1993; 25(9):1231-1239

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Relationships between total metals, CaCl2-extractable metals and soil microbial biomass were investigated in a sandy loam soil (Cuckney series) at Gleadthorpe Experimental Husbandry Farm, U.K.

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

soil copper

IUPAC Name:

soil copper

Test organisms

Test organisms (inoculum):

soil

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Dose descriptor:

other: see summary

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Relationships between total metals, CaCl₂-extractable metals and soil microbial biomass were investigated in a sandy loam soil (Cuckney series) at Gleadthorpe Experimental Husbandry Farm, U.K.. The metals occurred because sewage sludges, enriched either with different rater of the single metals Zn, Cu or Ni, or with combinations of the metals (Zn and Cu or Zn and Ni) at different rates, were applied in 1982 and again, in some cases, in 1986. The observed increases in total soil metal concentrations were generally in good agreement with the intended soil metal additions. However, the proportional amounts of metals extracted by CaCl₂differed between metals. Calcium chloride extracted a maximum of about 42% of total Zn, 9% of total Cu and 26% of total Ni in the sludged soil, but very much less (3% of total Zn, 1% of total Cu and 2% of total Ni) in control soils (i.e. the soils that never received sewage sludge). Neither Zn, Cu or Ni present singly in soils at below current EC permitted total soil metal concentrations decreased the amounts of soil microbial biomass. However, Cu at about 4.9 times and Zn at about 2.3 times permitted limits decreased the amounts of soil microbial biomass by 51 and 36%, respectively, when present separately, compared to the control soil. The soils which contained either Cu or Zn separately at about 1.4 times permitted limits contained about 12% less biomass C than the control soil. In contrast, Cu and Zn in combination at about 1.4 and 1.2 times permitted limits, respectively, decreased the biomass by about 29%, and soils containing Cu and Zn in combination at 1.8 and 1.4 times the limits contained 53% less biomass than the control soil. Thus a combination of Zn and Cu decreased the amount of biomass at lower soil metal concentrations than were required when either metal was present singly, suggesting the effects were additive. Biomass C as a percentage of total soil organic C in soils contaminated singly with higher rates of Zn or Cu or with both materials in combination was less than half that in the soil which received no sludge, uncontaminated sludge or sludge contaminated with lower rates of metals. Thus, this statistic provides a sensitive indicator of the effects of heavy metals on microbial biomass.