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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 6(5)

1H NMR metabolomics of earthworm responses to sub-lethal PAH exposure

Sarah A. E. Brown A , Andre J. Simpson A and Myrna J. Simpson A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada.

B Corresponding author. Email: myrna.simpson@utoronto.ca

Environmental Chemistry 6(5) 432-440 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN09054
Submitted: 5 May 2009  Accepted: 8 August 2009   Published: 22 October 2009

Environmental context. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common contaminants, but there has been limited research investigating the responses of earthworm exposure to sub-lethal PAH concentrations. In this study, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics was used to characterise the metabolic responses of Eisenia fetida earthworm exposure in contact tests to 10, 50 and 100 μg cm–2 naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene. The findings of this study highlight the potential of metabolomics as a tool for monitoring earthworm responses to sub-lethal concentrations of problematic environmental contaminants.

Abstract. Metabolic responses of earthworm exposure to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene in contact tests were measured using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Novel metabolites were not detected but principal component analysis (PCA) showed that earthworms exposed to 10, 50 and 100 μg cm–2 naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene differed from unexposed (control) earthworms. Partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that earthworms had statistically significant responses to PAH exposure, except for 10 μg cm–2 naphthalene and 50 μg cm–2 pyrene. Leucine, valine, alanine, lysine and maltose were identified as potential response indicators of PAH exposure, but whether the concentration of these metabolites increased or decreased was PAH- and concentration-dependent. These initial findings reveal the potential of metabolomics for monitoring earthworm responses to sub-lethal PAH exposure and highlight the role of metabolomics as a future tool in ecotoxicology.

Additional keywords: contact tests, Eisenia fetida, metabolic profiling, metabonomics.


Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the Province of Ontario Premier’s Research Excellence Award and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada Strategic Grant for supporting this research. S.A.E.B. thanks NSERC for a postgraduate scholarship, A.J.S. thanks the Government of Ontario for an Early Researcher Award (ERA) and M.J.S. thanks NSERC for a University Faculty Award. We would also like to thank Dr Jennifer McKelvie and Prof. George Arhonditsis for feedback on this manuscript and valuable discussions.


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