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VOL. 11, ISSUE 4 (2026)
Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Earthworms Found in Industrial Areas of Sirohi District of Southwestern Rajasthan
Authors
Shweta Gupta and Suresh Kumar
Abstract
Earthworms are widely used as bioindicators of soil contamination, yet
information on metal bioaccumulation in southwestern Rajasthan's industrial
belt, India, remains scarce. This study quantified cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb),
mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) concentrations in soil and earthworm tissue, and
determined their bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) at four industrial sites in the
Pindwara and Abu Road tehsils of Sirohi district, Rajasthan. Three sites
comprised cement and mineral-processing units, while the fourth was a mixed
industrial estate. We collected soil and adult earthworms in the pre-monsoon,
monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons for two consecutive years (January 2024 to
December 2025). Earthworms were identified to species level, and metals in
acid-digested soil and tissue were measured using an atomic absorption
spectrophotometer. Cadmium was quantifiable in soil only in the pre-monsoon
season (1.50-5.40 mg/kg), when earthworm tissue contained 13.50-42.66 mg/kg,
giving bioaccumulation factors of 7.9-9.0. Lead showed low transfer
(bioaccumulation factor 0.04-0.49) despite higher soil concentrations
(21.5-31.7 mg/kg in the pre-monsoon season). Arsenic showed a season-dependent
pattern, with factors slightly above 1 in the pre-monsoon season (1.24-1.40)
and below 1 (0.6-0.8) thereafter. Mercury was below the limit of quantification
in all samples. The order of bioaccumulation was cadmium > arsenic >
lead. The results indicate that earthworms efficiently accumulate cadmium from
the industrially contaminated soils of the study region, suggesting their
potential as bioindicators for monitoring soil cadmium pollution. In contrast,
earthworms appeared to be less effective indicators of lead, arsenic, and
mercury contamination at these sites.
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Pages:141-153
How to cite this article:
Shweta Gupta and Suresh Kumar "Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Earthworms Found in Industrial Areas of Sirohi District of Southwestern Rajasthan". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 4, 2026, Pages 141-153
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