Applying fungicide on earthworms: Biochemical effects of Eisenia fetida exposed to fluoxastrobin in three natural soils

Fluoxastrobin is one of the most widely used strobilurin fungicides, however, application of the fungicides may result in soil residues leading to environmental damage including oxidative stress and damage to sentinel organisms (i.e. earthworms). While this has been demonstrated in artificial soil, the biochemical response of Eisenia fetida exposed to fluoxastrobin in natural soils is unclear. This study utilized three typical natural soils (fluvo-aquic soils, red clay, and black soils) to evaluate the biochemical response of Eisenia fetida exposed to fluoxastrobin (0.1, 1.0, 2.5 mg/kg) including the production of reactive oxygen species, impact on three enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine after a 4-week exposure. The effects of fluoxastrobin on Eisenia fetida in different soils were assessed using an integrated biomarker response (IBR). The findings may be possible to state that the toxic effects of fluoxastrobin in artificial cannot exactly represent that in natural soils. Specifically, the fluoxastrobin subchronic toxicity was highest in red clay and lowest in black soil among the three natural soils. Furthermore, the 8-OHdG content was more sensitive to fluoxastrobin in all six environmental indicators of the present study. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.