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Ex situ studies on Macrotermes bellicosus as a potential bioremediation tool of polluted dump soil sites for Sub Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT Soil is a fragile ecosystem that could be contaminated by several factors such as anthropogenic and natural means: heavy metals, pesticides, hydrocarbon or petrochemicals, and leachates from wastes. This ex situ study intends to determine the bioremediation potentials of African mound termites (Macrotemes bellicosus) with their ability to improve the physical and to reduce the chemical and heavy metal contents in dumpsite soils. Three sites have been investigated (virgin soil, active dumpsite, dormant dumpsite). The influence of M. bellicosus on the dumpsite soil was appraised statistically using General Linear Model Analysis of Variance set at p > 0.05 is not significant. The activities of the termites reduced the heavy metals to Fe(III) (1.10 mg/kg), Mn(III) (1.37 mg/kg), Zn (15.30 mg/kg), Cu(II) (0.95 mg/kg), Cr(III) (0.19 mg/kg), Cd (2.25 mg/kg), Pb (0.10 mg/kg), Ni (0.08 mg/kg), V(V) (0.05 mg/kg), and THC (0.90 mg/kg) with F values of 2.07, 1.87, 1.51, 1.36, 1.47, 1.35, 1.85, 3.04, 3.00, and 1.42. The termites were able to significantly reduce the levels of the chemical loads of the dump soil at different day intervals (0, 30, 60, and 90 days) in the active site. Gentle variations were also noticed in dormant and virgin sites correspondingly. The level of heavy metal concentrations in Macrotemes bellicosus was in the following ranks: Fe(III)>Zn>Pb>Cr(III)>Cd>Mn(III)>Cu(II)>Ni>V(V). The bioaccumulation factors for heavy metals in the termites revealed that Fe(III) and Zn had values >1 and ≥1, correspondingly. The study established the potentials of insects like Macrotemes bellicosus for entomoremediation purposes. Prospective utilization of this novel biosystems and biotechnology will enhance the restoration and healthy ecological balance of any dumpsite soil or polluted environments in situ. Graphical Abstract