Assessment of manufactured nano-objects on earthworm species

The accumulation of manufactured nano-objects (MNOs) in soil environment is a genuine global concern due to its rapid proliferation in modern industry. Enigmatic entry into the terrestrial food chain via soil biota arose many questions and uncertainties. Recent investigations on the toxicological aspects of MNOs for earthworm species improve our understanding of their safer execution in the agricultural environment. For example, recent literature reported negligible effects of MNOs on earthworms regarding their growth and survival but decline in reproduction rate at real environmental exposure levels. Furthermore, mixed effects were reported on earthworm biochemical and molecular markers and these responses depend on the type, size, and physicochemical properties of MNOs. Contrarily, few studies reported that earthworms have the potential to detoxify soils via bioaccumulation and biotransformation, but further in-depth investigations are needed. This chapter aims to provide an overview of MNOs interplay with earthworm species at physiology, biochemical, and genetics levels in a complex soil environment.