Work

From soil sorption to bioaccumulation: Tracing the endectocide ivermectin in soil and earthworms

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Ivermectin (IVM), a widely used antiparasitic drug in veterinary medicine, has emerged as an environmental contaminant due to its semi-persistence and potentially harmful ecotoxicological impacts on non-target terrestrial fauna. This study investigates the innovative combination of sorption, desorption, and bioaccumulation dynamics of IVM in soil-earthworm systems, focusing on the species Eisenia fetida , Aporrectodea caliginosa , and Lumbricus terrestris . Sorption experiments in artificial soil (AS) and its components (sand, clay, peat) revealed a strong affinity of IVM for organic-rich substrates, reducing bioavailability and bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation studies showed that the kinetic bioaccumulation factor B A F k for IVM in E. fetida ranged from 0.505 to 0.727 g soil dw/g earthworm dw, with elimination kinetics best described by a biphasic model, and suggesting minimal net accumulation. A. caliginosa and L. terrestris showed slightly higher accumulation potential, with accumulation factors exceeding 1 during the uptake phase, although equilibrium was not reached within 21 days. The prolonged accumulation process, combined with a calculated DT 50 of 142 days in AS, underscores IVM's potential environmental persistence and risk, particularly its ecotoxicological relevance. The results also suggest that strong sorption to organic matter in soils can mitigate bioaccumulation. Graphical abstract. Heinrich, A. (2025) https://BioRender.com/e20x740 • Low bioaccumulation of ivermectin in E. fetida despite prolonged exposure. • A. caliginosa and L. terrestris show moderately higher bioaccumulation potential. • Bioaccumulation varies with earthworm species and soil composition. • Ivermectin elimination in E. fetida follows biphasic kinetics. • Strong sorption to organic matter affects ivermectin persistence in artificial soil.

Source: Chemosphere

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144228

Authors: Andre Patrick Heinrich, Johannes Junck, Rolf-Alexander Düring

Institution: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

Language: English

Topic: Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,010