Using soil health to assess ecotoxicological impacts of pollutants on soil microflora

The ecotoxicity testing approach allows for an overall evaluation in the measurement of pollutant impacts on soil life. Ecotoxicological evaluation takes into consideration the complexity of the contaminant mixture as well as the multiple interactions that condition bioavailability and the level of exposure to living species.The measurement of ecotoxicity is generally performed using single organisms or species. The observed toxic effects can vary in gravity and extent depending on whether they affect survival, growth, or reproduction. However, this standard method cannot easily be used to evaluate pollutant ecotoxicological impacts on a soil microbial ecosystem. Indeed, soil is a complex living system in which a microbial community is intricately related with the chemical, and physical soil components (Avidano et al. 2005). Moreover, the soil biological content is in itself a relatively unknown elaborate structure. Its ecotoxicological evaluation goes beyond the individuals or species responses to the presence of pollutants (Kools et al. 2005). © 2006 Springer.