Kayce Cook HCOP English Annotated Bibliography

“Behavior, Growth, and Reproduction of Lumbriculus Variegatus” by Sardo, Soared,

and Gerhardt.

To test different types of sediment and soil samples for harmful toxins or
contaminants, the freshwater oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegates, is used to
determine the levels of toxins and their effects on living organisms. The effects can
be seen through multiple tests involving the study of the locomotory movements of
L.variegatus, and their reproductive processes. The experiment conducted by Sardo,
Soares, and Gerhardt involved four subsequently increasing sizes of sediment: fine
(<1mm), medium (1 < x < 2 mm), coarse (< 2 mm), and whole pieces of sediment.
The specimens used were adult L. variegates and clones created over six
generations of the oligochaete. Conclusions made based on the final data reflected
that the reproduction rates and locomotory levels increased in the worms when they
were in the fine and coarse sized sediment. However, those same levels fell when
the worms were placed in the medium and whole sized sediment. There were
additional data collected when it was noticed that the clone worms had lower
reproduction and locomotory levels than the normal worms in all of the sediment
tests, giving the scientists reason to conclude that clone worms were not adequate
for the collection of any further data.

This paper contributes to our research by adding to the knowledge known about L.
variegates and its reactions to certain substances. They are very receptive to
various solutions, reflecting behaviors that were hypothesized about them by
scientists. When we chose our solution and substance, not much had been known
concerning L. variegates and its reactions to CMA, or rock salt. This gave us the
opportunity to discover the side-effects it would have on the aquatic invertebrates.

“Evaluation of Calcium Magnesium Acetate and Road Salt for Contact

Hypersensitivity Potential and Dermal Irritancy in Humans” by Cushman, Duff,
Butfau, Aust, Caldwell, and Lazer.

Irritation caused by the de-icing materials, calcium magnesium acetate and

road salt, were tested by human subjects to determine the degree of irritation that
could be acquired by road workers that are subject to exposure to the materials.
The design for the test included patches infused with 10% to 30% percent mixtures
of the salt and distilled water. The patches were worn for 14 hours three times every
week for three weeks. After three weeks, and another two weeks of challenging the
panelists without dramatic effects, it was discovered that none of the subjects
underwent contact hypersensitivity. However, repeated exposure to the CMA did
produce mild to moderate irritation at the skin site. The highest level of irritation
recorded was due to exposure to a 30% CMA solution for a prolonged period of time.
Conclusions were reached that explained that the workers were in no immediate
danger from the substance, and that they would only experience mild skin irritation.

The essay contributes to our research of L. variegates by explaining some of the

side-effects that are caused by CMA. Noting that prolonged exposure to CMA can
cause skin irritation to humans aides in our understanding of the prolonged effects
that our worms would undergo when confronted with varying concentrations of CMA
solutions. The solutions would cause extreme irritation to the epidermal covering of
the Lumbriculus, and cause the specimen to expire due to the severe hypertonic
solution it is placed in.

Environmental Impact and Toxicological Characteristics of Calcium Magnesium

Acetate By McFarland, B.L.; O’Reilly, K.T.

Calcium magnesium acetate has been used as a de-icer for highway s and
roads because of its effect on the melting point of ice, clearing roads of dangerous
debris. It has also been used for its lack of harm to the surrounding environment
and organisms. Data that was collected showed that CMA had little or no effect on
the reproductive and population rates of aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates,
along with types of algae and plankton biomasses. Studies also showed that CMA
had no negative effects on the soil, and that it seemed to help with the soil’s
structure. The study concluded that CMA would have similar to or less severe toxic
effects on humans and surrounding organisms than salt would.

This information helped our research by providing the question of, if the CMA
produced no harmful toxic effects on organisms, then what amount would? Creating
various concentrations of the CMA solution gave us opportunities to discover how
much CMA could be tolerated until its toxic effects became permanent and
apparent. Giving each group of worms a different solution, we were able to see how
they would react. We saw that the worms could tolerate a 1% CMA solution without
immediate health discrepancies. However, when testing stronger solutions like 3%
and 5%, we saw an immediate rise in the mortality rate. This signaled the tolerance
point of worms, standing up to < 2% CMA solution and still live.

References Cited
Sardo, Soares, Gerhardt. “Behavior, Growth, and Reproduction of Lumbriculus

Variegatus (Oligochaetae) in Different Sediment Types”. Human and Ecological

Rich Assessment, 13:519-526, 2007.

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=104&sid=9cc658b6-82ac-4ef8-

97d9-7008ba4f9bea%40sessionmgr106

Cushman, J.R.; Duff, V.A.; Butfau, G.H.;Aust, L.B.; Caldwell, N.; Lazer, W.. “Evaluation

of CMA and Road Salt for Contact Hypersensitivity Potential and Dermal Irritancy in

Humans”. Contact Dermatitus (01051873) Apr91, Vol. 24, Issue 4, p.289-292

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=104&sid=9cc658b6-82ac-4ef8-

97d9-7008ba4f9bea%40sessionmgr106

McFarland, B.L.; O’Reilly, K.T.. “Environmental Impact and Toxicological

Characteristics of Calcium Magnesium Acetate”. Chemical Deicers and the

Environment. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida.1992. p 192-227. 9 fig, 6 tab, 50

ref.

http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=

9306831