Ecotoxicology data of Eisenia fetida earthworms following acute or chronic exposure to different concentrations of bio-based and conventional fibres

Two bio- based (Viscose and Lyocell) and one conventional (Polyester) fibre along with a ‘no fibres’ control, and a positive organic pollutant control (3,4- Dichloroaniline) were used in all experiments. All earthworms were purchased from a commercial supplier (Blades Biological, Kent, UK), and held in synchronous culture for at least 2 weeks prior to their use in experiments.
Acute testing followed the filter paper contact method in the OECD TG 207: acute earthworm test, standard protocol. Earthworms were exposed for 72-hours to concentrations between 0 – 10,000 fibres per ml. Mortality was assessed to determine lethal thresholds, 10 worms were used per treatment.
Chronic testing: method followed the OECD TG 222: earthworm reproduction test guidelines, and standard LUFA 2.2 soil (LUFA Speyer, Germany) was used. 12 worms were included per test container, with 4 replicates per treatment. Earthworms were exposed for 28-days to 100 mg/kg of fibres, when measures of worm growth, health and reproduction were assessed.