Toxicity of pentachlorophenol on the reproductive cycle of Eisenia fetida

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the environment can largely be attributed to contamination of sediments from historic usage, since nowadays the use of PCP is restricted. The soil accommodates a huge amount of organisms and is a very important resource because it is the basis for farming, which allows obtaining food. The organisms present in the soil are part of the basic trophic levels in the food chain and maintain the soil fertile. A very important organism for soil fertility is the earthworm because it’s responsible for the improvement of the soil structure, decomposition of organic matter, mineralization of nutrients and its diffusion to the plants. The earthworm Eisenia fetida is used on toxicity tests because of its susceptibility to chemicals and its short life cycle.