<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important group of organic pollutants present in all parts of the environment, affecting ecosystems and human health. PAHs, which have a strong affinity for organic carbon, are found in large quantities in soil, which is one of the most important sinks for these contaminants. Their impact on the soil biotic compartments depends on a number of different factors in combination with PAH behaviour and can be assessed using soil monitoring. Soil fauna have already shown excellent properties for biomonitoring of contaminants with most promising indicator frameworks based on nematodes, which are involved in essential processes in this environment. Nematodes respond to PAHs at multiple levels, including molecular, individual and community levels. At the molecular level, this is associated with activation of metabolic pathways for xenobiotics and increased demand for energy and resources. At the individual level, this is reflected in the slowing down of various physiological processes, which has consequences at the individual and community level for sensitive taxa. In this review, the toxicity and the direct and indirect effects of PAHs on soil nematode communities are discussed. It also considers the perspectives and challenges in assessing the toxicity of PAHs and their indication using soil nematodes.</p></abstract>

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important group of organic pollutants present in all parts of the environment, affecting ecosystems and human health. PAHs, which have a strong affinity for organic carbon, are found in large quantities in soil, which is one of the most important sinks for these contaminants. Their impact on the soil biotic compartments depends on a number of different factors in combination with PAH behaviour and can be assessed using soil monitoring. Soil fauna have already shown excellent properties for biomonitoring of contaminants with most promising indicator frameworks based on nematodes, which are involved in essential processes in this environment. Nematodes respond to PAHs at multiple levels, including molecular, individual and community levels. At the molecular level, this is associated with activation of metabolic pathways for xenobiotics and increased demand for energy and resources. At the individual level, this is reflected in the slowing down of various physiological processes, which has consequences at the individual and community level for sensitive taxa. In this review, the toxicity and the direct and indirect effects of PAHs on soil nematode communities are discussed. It also considers the perspectives and challenges in assessing the toxicity of PAHs and their indication using soil nematodes.

Nematodes as soil stress indicators for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A review

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important group of organic pollutants present in all parts of the environment, affecting ecosystems and human...

Nematodes as soil stress indicators for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A review

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Sep 03, 2022

Page range: 117 - 126

Received: Jan 25, 2022

Accepted: Mar 27, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2022-0014

Keywords
PAHs, soil pollution, Nematoda, monitoring, environment

© 2022 T. Brázová, P. Kováčik, M. Matoušková, M. Oros, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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Nematodes as soil stress indicators for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A review

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Sep 03, 2022

Page range: 117 - 126

Received: Jan 25, 2022

Accepted: Mar 27, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2022-0014

KeywordsPAHs, soil pollution, Nematoda, monitoring, environment

© 2022 T. Brázová, P. Kováčik, M. Matoušková, M. Oros, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Keywords
PAHs, soil pollution, Nematoda, monitoring, environment