JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Solgi E, Dorjdar M. Investigating the Heavy Metal Contamination in Earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and Soil around the Abik Cement Factory, Alborz Province. jwss 2026; 30 (2) :143-164
URL: http://jstnar.iut.ac.ir/article-1-4488-en.html

Soil contamination by metals is a major problem in terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in and around industrial areas, and can pose a threat to human health in various ways. Therefore, in the present study, the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) in soil around the Abik Cement Factory in Alborz Province was evaluated. Sixty soil samples were collected at depths of 0-20 cm at distances of 500, 1000, and 2000, in the directions of north, south, east, and west. Earthworm samples were also randomly collected from these distances and directions. The wet digestion method was employed to determine heavy metal concentrations in soil and earthworms, and Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Ni were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. One- way ANOVA and Kruskal- Wallis statistical methods were used to examine the effects of distance and direction. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was used to evaluate the ability of earthworms as a biological indicator. According to the results, the average concentrations of heavy metals in the soil around the lands of the Abik Cement Factory for Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni were 22. 20, 10. 19, 6. 34, 7. 63, and 135. 75 (mg/kg), respectively. The average concentrations of heavy metals in earthworms in this region for Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni were 51.57. 57, 9. 66, 5. 18, 5. 45, and 106. 17 (mg/kg), respectively. The results indicated that the distance effect was significant only for Ni (p< 0. 05), and the direction effect was significant for all heavy metals except Zn (p> 0. 05). A decreasing trend in the concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Pb was observed with increasing distance from the cement factory, indicating the impact of the Abik Cement Factory on heavy metal pollution in the agricultural soil of the surrounding lands. The highest bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was calculated for zinc and was greater than 1, indicating bioaccumulation of Zn in earthworms. It can be concluded that earthworms can be used as a suitable biological indicator species for monitoring soil contamination with heavy metals, especially for Zn.