Histological Studies of Some Organs of Earthworms Treated With Lead Nitrate

Ayesha S. Ali, Kusha Chadha, Chanchla Devi, Susheel Kumar,

Environmental Biology Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Saifia College of Science and Education, Bhopal-462 001 (India)

In the present study, the weight loss of earthworms Lumbricoides terristus after exposure to lead is attributed to dis-function of physiological systems such as digestion and absorption with a consequent disturbed metabolism. Histological studies have also shown that there is distinct tissue damage with necrosis, cellular atrophy and formation of cellular debris in the lead treated worms. These findings are highly significant and prove that indiscriminate application of chemicals including pesticides and heavy metals is resulting in derangement of the soil ecosystem, leading to the destruction of beneficial non-target organisms existing in the soil; such as earthworms and other useful worms.

Histological studies; earth worms; lead nitrate