Effect of Vermicomposting on the Concentration of Heavy Metals in Soil with Drill Cuttings

Organic and non-organic pollution present in the drilling waste may negatively impact flora and fauna. The tests conducted on earthworms may serve as indicators for the assessment of pollution bioavailability, i.a. heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, due to the relatively stable ratios between the concentration of certain pollutants in earthworms and soil. Moreover, earthworms are capable of metal bioaccumulation in tissues; therefore, they can be utilized as an ecological indicator of soil pollution. The studies on bioaccumulation of heavy metals from soils with the addition of drilling wastes in tissues of earthworms were conducted. The reduction percentage (R) of each scenario was calculated for the total concentration of all heavy metals. As data showed, all heavy metal content was reduced from its initial concentration.