Abstract
Results of studying the main types of surfactants effect on earthworms Eisenia fetida andrey (Bouche, 1972) are presented. The worms were tested for survival and preference-avoidance behavioral reactions. Earthworms avoided sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at 0.02 g/kg and above, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide – at 0.1 g/kg and above, and polysorbate 80 – at 30 mL/kg and above. The 100% mortality of earthworms occurred at 0.001, 0.01 and 0.02 g/kg of SDS on day 30, at 1 g/kg – on day 25, and at 1 g/kg – on day 2 of the experiment. Сetyltrimethylammonium bromide at 0.001 and 0.01 g/kg caused the 100% mortality of worms on day 30; at 0.1 g/kg – on day 25; at 0.5 g/kg – on day 5; and at 1.0 g/kg already on day 2 of the experiment. The 100% mortality of worms occurred at 0.1, 1 and 10 mL/kg of polysorbate 80 on day 30 of incubation; at 20 or 30 mL/kg – on day 20; at 50 mL/kg – on day 10 of experience. The following toxicity series (both in terms of g/L and in terms of g/mol) of the tested surfactants for earthworms was constructed on the basis of the results obtained (increasing toxicity): polysorbate 80 (non-ionic surfactant) < cetrimonium bromide (cationic surfactant) < sodium dodecyl sulfate (anion-active surfactant).