Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are increasingly used in consumer products and subsequently arrive in wastewater systems, accumulating as silver sulphide (Ag₂S) in the resulting biosolids, which are commonly spread onto agricultural fields as a fertiliser. Experiments were performed to investigate the effect of AgNPs, using the endogeic earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa as a test organism. In an acute toxicity experiment, A. caliginosa were exposed to soil containing different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil) and Ag₂S (0, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil). Earthworm biomass and mortality were monitored. Earthworms exposed to 500, 750 and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ fresh AgNPs had mortality rates of 20%, 60% and 70%, respectively. Changes in biomass were directly related to AgNP concentration. Exposure to Ag₂S did not affect biomass or mortality. Further experiments used 0, 10, 50, 100 and 250 mg kg⁻¹ AgNPs and 0, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ Ag₂S to evaluate sublethal effects on A. caliginosa. Avoidance behaviour in a linear gradient was evaluated after 14 days. Earthworms significantly preferred soil that was free of either AgNPs or Ag₂S. The same concentrations were used to assess effects on cocoon production of A. caliginosa exposed to AgNPs and Ag₂S. In the first 3 months of AgNP exposure, higher concentrations had a negative effect on cocoon production, but this effect diminished thereafter. Ag₂S had no discernible effect on reproduction. Overall, introduction of AgNPs into the soil through the application of biosolids appears to be of low concern to the tested endogeic earthworm.

银纳米颗粒 (AgNP) 越来越多地用于消费品，随后进入废水系统，在生成的生物固体中以硫化银 (Ag ₂ S) 的形式积累，这些生物固体通常作为肥料撒在农田上。使用内生蚯蚓Aporectodea caliginosa作为测试生物体，进行实验来研究 AgNP 的效果。在急性毒性实验中，A. caliginosa暴露于含有不同浓度 AgNP（0、1、5、10、50、100、250、500、750 和 1000 mg kg ^-1干土）和 Ag ₂ S的土壤中。 （0、10、50、100、500 和 1000 mg kg ^-1干土）。监测蚯蚓生物量和死亡率。暴露于500、750和1000 mg kg ^-1新鲜AgNPs的蚯蚓死亡率分别为20%、60%和70%。生物量的变化与AgNP 浓度直接相关。暴露于Ag ₂ S 不会影响生物量或死亡率。进一步的实验使用0、10、50、100和250mg kg ^-1 AgNP以及0、50、100、500和1000mg kg ^-1 Ag ₂ S来评估对A. caliginosa的亚致死作用。14 天后评估线性梯度的回避行为。蚯蚓明显更喜欢不含 AgNP 或 Ag ₂ S 的土壤。使用相同的浓度来评估暴露于 AgNP 和 Ag _{2 S 对}A. caliginosa茧生产的影响。在 AgNP 暴露的前 3 个月，较高的浓度对茧生产产生负面影响，但此后这种影响逐渐减弱。Ag ₂ S 对繁殖没有明显影响。总体而言，通过应用生物固体将纳米银颗粒引入土壤似乎对所测试的内生蚯蚓不太关心。