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Assessing traffic-derived soil contamination: Insights from earthworm bioaccumulation and histomorphological responses.

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Title: Assessing traffic-derived soil contamination: Insights from earthworm bioaccumulation and histomorphological responses.
Authors: Coelho NMP; FCT, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal; IVAR, Institute of Volcanology and Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal. Electronic address: nadiamariapereiracoelho@gmail.com., Camarinho R; FCT, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal; IVAR, Institute of Volcanology and Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal. Electronic address: ricardo.ad.camarinho@uac.pt., Garcia P; FCT, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal; cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Azorean Biodiversity Group, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal. Electronic address: patricia.v.garcia@uac.pt., Rodrigues AS; FCT, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal; IVAR, Institute of Volcanology and Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal. Electronic address: armindo.s.rodrigues@uac.pt.
Source: Environmental research [Environ Res] 2026 Oct 01; Vol. 307, pp. 125521. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Aug 20.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 0147621 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1096-0953 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00139351 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Environ Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: <2000- > : Amsterdam : Elsevier
Original Publication: New York, Academic Press.
MeSH Terms: Oligochaeta*/metabolism , Oligochaeta*/drug effects , Soil Pollutants*/analysis , Soil Pollutants*/metabolism , Soil Pollutants*/toxicity , Environmental Monitoring*/methods , Vehicle Emissions*/analysis , Vehicle Emissions*/toxicity, Animals ; Bioaccumulation ; Portugal ; Azores
Abstract: This study aims to evaluate traffic-derived soil contamination using Amynthas gracilis (Kinberg, 1867) earthworms as bioindicators, with insights from bioaccumulation and histomorphological responses. Road pollution arises from multiple sources, including vehicle emissions, tire and brake wear, and stormwater runoff, with extensive environmental impacts. The negative impacts of heavy traffic pollution are well-recognized, but less information is available on that of moderate traffic road pollution. Besides serving as proxies for soil contamination, earthworms provide information on contaminant bioavailability and biological responses. Soil and A. gracilis earthworm samples were collected on either side of three roads in São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal, with varying average annual daily traffic: Lagoa-Ponta Delgada (44.300 annual daily traffic), Lagoa-Ribeira Grande (9092 annual daily traffic), and Coroa da Mata-Santa Iria (<400 annual daily traffic), labelled MHT, MT, and LT sites. Soil and earthworm elemental concentrations were measured; soil elemental contamination and earthworm bioaccumulation factors were calculated. Earthworm histomorphometrical and histomorphological data were gathered to assess the impact of chronic exposure to moderate traffic road pollution on bioindicator tissues. Enrichment factors were elevated for Bi in MHT and MT sites, and Co in MT site; earthworms bioaccumulated As, Cd, Hg, Sb, Zn. Histological analyses revealed alterations in earthworm tissues indicative of physiological stress, namely thicker integument and peritrophic matrix (both of which reflect enhanced barrier function), thinner intestinal epithelium (reflecting impaired nutrient absorption and higher cellular turnover), and a higher proportion of mucous cells (reflecting enhanced barrier function) in the integument of earthworms from MHT and MT sites. The impact of moderate levels of traffic pollution is demonstrated by its contribution to soil contamination. The potential of using A. gracilis earthworms as sensitive bioindicators to moderate levels of road pollution is highlighted.
(Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Amynthas gracilis; Chronic exposure; Exhaust fumes; Histology; Low-volume roadway; Metals; Vehicles
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Soil Pollutants)
0 (Vehicle Emissions)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260820 Date Completed: 20260912 Latest Revision: 20260912
Update Code: 20260913
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.125521
PMID: 42624317
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Assessing traffic-derived soil contamination: Insights from earthworm bioaccumulation and histomorphological responses.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Coelho+NMP%22&quot;&gt;Coelho NMP&lt;/searchLink&gt;; FCT, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal; IVAR, Institute of Volcanology and Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal. Electronic address: nadiamariapereiracoelho@gmail.com.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Camarinho+R%22&quot;&gt;Camarinho R&lt;/searchLink&gt;; FCT, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal; IVAR, Institute of Volcanology and Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal. Electronic address: ricardo.ad.camarinho@uac.pt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Garcia+P%22&quot;&gt;Garcia P&lt;/searchLink&gt;; FCT, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal; cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes &amp; CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Azorean Biodiversity Group, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal. Electronic address: patricia.v.garcia@uac.pt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Rodrigues+AS%22&quot;&gt;Rodrigues AS&lt;/searchLink&gt;; FCT, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal; IVAR, Institute of Volcanology and Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, 9501-801, Portugal. Electronic address: armindo.s.rodrigues@uac.pt.
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  Data: This study aims to evaluate traffic-derived soil contamination using Amynthas gracilis (Kinberg, 1867) earthworms as bioindicators, with insights from bioaccumulation and histomorphological responses. Road pollution arises from multiple sources, including vehicle emissions, tire and brake wear, and stormwater runoff, with extensive environmental impacts. The negative impacts of heavy traffic pollution are well-recognized, but less information is available on that of moderate traffic road pollution. Besides serving as proxies for soil contamination, earthworms provide information on contaminant bioavailability and biological responses. Soil and A. gracilis earthworm samples were collected on either side of three roads in S&#227;o Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal, with varying average annual daily traffic: Lagoa-Ponta Delgada (44.300 annual daily traffic), Lagoa-Ribeira Grande (9092 annual daily traffic), and Coroa da Mata-Santa Iria (&amp;lt;400 annual daily traffic), labelled MHT, MT, and LT sites. Soil and earthworm elemental concentrations were measured; soil elemental contamination and earthworm bioaccumulation factors were calculated. Earthworm histomorphometrical and histomorphological data were gathered to assess the impact of chronic exposure to moderate traffic road pollution on bioindicator tissues. Enrichment factors were elevated for Bi in MHT and MT sites, and Co in MT site; earthworms bioaccumulated As, Cd, Hg, Sb, Zn. Histological analyses revealed alterations in earthworm tissues indicative of physiological stress, namely thicker integument and peritrophic matrix (both of which reflect enhanced barrier function), thinner intestinal epithelium (reflecting impaired nutrient absorption and higher cellular turnover), and a higher proportion of mucous cells (reflecting enhanced barrier function) in the integument of earthworms from MHT and MT sites. The impact of moderate levels of traffic pollution is demonstrated by its contribution to soil contamination. The potential of using A. gracilis earthworms as sensitive bioindicators to moderate levels of road pollution is highlighted.&lt;br /&gt; (Copyright &#169; 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
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  Data: Declaration of competing interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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