Lead Impact on the Earthworm Eisenia fetida and Earthworm Recovery after Exposure

This study investigates the effects of lead (Pb) on earthworm Eisenia fetida and its potential to recover from Pb exposure. Adult earthworms E. fetida were exposed for 4 weeks to lead (40–2500 mg Pb kg−1) in soil, and after the period of exposure, earthworms were transferred to clean unpolluted soil for 4 weeks to recover. Pb had no effect on the earthworm’s survival but inhibited earthworm growth; growth rate decreased with Pb concentration in...