Effects of Chemicals on Earthworms

The following is a summary of known toxic effects of some pesticides on earthworms (from Earthworms and Land Use Practices, by Kenneth Lee, Academic Press, 1985)

PESTICIDES

Organochlorines
Aldrin -- Very little effect at normal rates; toxic at very high rates.
Chlordane -- Very toxic.
Dieldrin -- Little effect at normal rates; toxic at high rates. Oongterm use may reduce populations.
Endrin -- Variable from little effect to very toxic.
Heptachlor -- Very toxic.
Toxaphene -- Toxic.
Organophosphates
Chlorphrifos -- Probably not toxic at normal rates.
Fonofos -- Moderately toxic.
Ethoprop -- Very toxic.
Malathion -- Not toxic at normal rates.
Parathion -- Moderately to very toxic.
Phorate -- Very toxic.
Carbamates
Aldicarb -- Very toxic.
Carbaryl -- Very toxic.
arbofuran -- Very toxic.

FUNGICIDES

Chloropicrin, Methyl Bromide, Metham Sodium -- Very toxic, even for earthworms that live in deep burrows.

HERBICIDES

Atraxine, Glyphosphate, Linuron, Paraquat, Simazine -- Probably no significant toxicity at normal rates; some are toxic at high rates. Used for total plant suppression.