Effect of vermicomposting of aquaculture fish sludge with lettuce residue and wastepaper on potentially toxic elements and persistent organic pollutants

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60460709%3A41210%2F25%3A102367" target="_blank" >RIV/60460709:41210/25:102367 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749125014216?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749125014216?via%3Dihub</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127048" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127048</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Effect of vermicomposting of aquaculture fish sludge with lettuce residue and wastepaper on potentially toxic elements and persistent organic pollutants

Original language description

The growing aquaculture industry generates substantial amounts of waste, necessitating sustainable valorization methods. This study assessed vermicomposting of fish sludge from recirculating aquaculture systems, combined with aquaponic lettuce residues and wastepaper egg boxes, using Eisenia andrei earthworms. Four substrate variants—with and without earthworms—were evaluated over 173 days, monitoring thermal, chemical, and biological parameters to assess organic matter transformation and the fate of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn). All screened polychlorinated compounds remained below detection limits. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons levels fell by 85–90 % in paper-rich treatments. Earthworm activity significantly enhanced organic matter mineralization, reducing volatile solids, C, and S content. Activity of ß-D-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, and alanine aminopeptidase peaked at day 35, with values up to 900 µmol MUF/g/h, and declined by ~70 % by day 173, indicating vermicompost stabilization. Temperature trends demonstrated earthworms’ role in regulating microbial thermogenesis. Vermicompost maturation was confirmed by favorable changes; variants with earthworms achieved a reduction in C:N ratio by 14–66 %, compared to 26–68 % in variants without earthworms. Significant declines in total and bioavailable fractions of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn were observed, especially with earthworms. Bioaccumulation confirmed metal uptake by E. andrei, the highest for Zn – more than 100 mg/kg dw. These findings unequivocally demonstrate vermicomposting as an effective and sustainable approach to recycling aquaculture and associated wastes, minimizing ecological risks, and generating safe, stabilized vermicompost for agricultural application.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Project

<a href="/en/project/QK21010207" target="_blank" >QK21010207: Diversification and strengthening the competitiveness of aquaculture by promoting aquaponics as an innovative technology for agricultural food production</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)<br>S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Environmental Pollution

ISSN

0269-7491

e-ISSN

1873-6424

Volume of the periodical

385

Issue of the periodical within the volume

November 2025

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

1-12

UT code for WoS article

001568161300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105014800824