Review on Application of Earthworm in Soil Heavy Metal Pollution and Remediation

As the major soil macro-fauna,earthworm plays an important role in the improvement of soil environment.Based on the systematic analysis and summarizing on the researches in related fields,the application of earthworm in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil was reviewed,which included: earthworm as the biological indicator of heavy metal contaminated soil,the enrichment and release of heavy metals in earthworms,the physiological and ecological impact of heavy metals on earthworms,the mechanism of the remediation by earthworm for heavy metal polluted soil,the synergy between earthworms and plants,microbial activities,and the potential of vermin-compost applied in the remediation of heavy metal polluted soil.The main problems encountered in remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil by earthworms were also proposed.