Development of biomarkers inAporrectodea caliginosa andLumbricus rubellus for detecting exposure to benzo[a]pyrene

Objectives and Methods. The sensitivity of two biomarkers, the neutral red retention assay (NRRA) and cytochrome P450 were evaluated in the earthwormAporrectodea caliginosa for their potential to detect exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). Cytochrome P450 was also evaluated in the earthwormLumbricus rubellus, and measured using the substrate ethoxycoumarin. Optimal assay conditions (pH, and temperature) were determined, followed by exposure of earthworms to 20 mg/kg BaP (a typical concentration at contaminated sites in New Zealand). Ethoxycoumarin-O-dealkylase (ECOD) activity was measured after 7, 14, and 21 days exposure. The NRRA was evaluated in earthworms exposed to 0.2, 20, and 100 mg BaP/kg, and biomarker responses were compared with effects on body weight. Results and Discussion Benzo[a]pyrene failed to induce ECOD activity in either earthworm species, and therefore it is not useful as a biomarker of BaP exposure and was not evaluated further. In all cases, the NRRA was significantly affected in the absence of any effects on earthworm body weight, indicating that this assay can detect exposure to BaP at a range of concentrations comparable to those found at contaminated sites. The NRRA should be linked to reproductive endpoints, then it can be used as an early warning indicator of adverse effects. Establishing biomarker stability under environmental conditions is an important step in biomarker development. Therefore, the effects of soil type (sandy soil, silt loam, and a clay soil), moisture content (15–30%), and temperature (5–20°) on the NRRA were determined. In all cases, there was no effect on the NRRA, indicating that this assay is very stable under varying environmental conditions. Conclusion and Outlook In conclusion, cytochrome P450 activity does not appear to be a useful indicator of PAH exposure in eitherA. caliginosa or L.rubellus, and due to the inherently low activity, it is not suitable as a routine biomarker for detecting environmental contamination by these compounds. In contrast, the NRRA in the earthworm A.caliginosa is a promising indicator of PAH exposure at the concentrations likely to be found in contaminated sites in New Zealand, and therefore has potential for evaluating these contaminated sites. If the NRRA can be linked to ecologically important life-cycle endpoints, such as reproduction, then it could be used as an early warning indicator of adverse effects at contaminated sites, i.e., by measuring biomarker responses in earthworms from a ‘contaminated area’ and comparing these with earthworms from a matched control area.