The Effect of Various Concentrations of Water Bottle Plastic on the Burrowing Time of Worms
Abstract
This lab studied the effects of different
concentrations of the chemicals found in plastic
water bottles on the burrowing time of
earthworms. This was modeled in two ways,
both direct as well as indirect contact to the
plastic solution. In the first experiment, worms
were indirectly exposed to the plastic solution
through the soil. In the second experiment,
worms were directly exposed through the means
of soaking them in the plastic solution. While
first experiment showed no correlation between
the variables, the second experiment in which
worms were directly exposed to the chemicals
did. The second experiment showed that higher
concentrations of the plastic solution resulted in
longer burrowing time. This experiment
concerns humans because it is very common in
today’s world. The public is often not aware of
the chemicals and harmful effects of some of the
substances used in everyday lives.
Introduction
Our question for this experiment was, how does
exposing worms to different concentrations of
the chemicals found in plastic water bottles affect
their burrowing time? In a previous study, over
24,500 different chemicals were found in one
bottle of water. These chemicals were found to
disrupted hormone receptors and correlated with
various diseases (Landa, 2014). We hypothesized
that if we exposed worms to plastic, then their
burrow time will increase, because the chemicals
in plastic have a toxic effect (Dolesh, 2014).
Materials and Procedure:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
9g of Type 1 plastic
15 ml dechlorinated water
3 1000 mL beakers
1 hot plate
1 ScoutPro scale
1 thermometer
1glass funnel
20 worms
12 9 ounce plastic dart cups
8 16 oz plastic dart cups
12 cups of Stein’s potting
soil
• 16 mL of liquid plastic
solution
• 1 timer
Experiment 1
Alisha Khosla, Anna Field, Reena Yuan
1)Hot plate is heated on highest temperature and a mixture
Brookfield Central High School
of 3 grams of plastic and 120 ml of dechlorinated water is
heated for 15 minutes .This process is repeated 3 times.
The Effect of Various Concentrations of Water Bottle Plastic in Soil on Burrowing Time of Worms 2).Solutions are cooled to 20 degrees Celsius and one is
poured into 3 beakers with 40 ml in each
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Averag Qualitative Data
e
3) 60 ml of the second solution is poured into 3 beakers
141
154
205
166.7 the worms seemed to
Control
with
20
ml
in
each
and
20
ml
of
dechlorinated
water
is
burrow at a normal
(seconds)
added to each beaker
pace
162
150
241
184.3 the worms just laid for
25%
4)30 ml of the third solution is poured into 3 beakers with
a while there for a
(seconds)
10 ml in each and 30 ml of dechlorinated water is added to
while and one tried to
each
climb out of the cup
189
160
240
196.3 the head of one of the
50%
5)3 beakers are filled with 40 ml of dechlorinated water.
worms moved out of
(seconds)
6)12 cups were filled to the top with Stein’s top soil.
the cup and it too
tried to climb out
7)40 ml of dechlorinated water was poured into the cup. A
145
160
220
175
the worm didn’t
100%
worm
is
placed
in
each
cup
and
is
timed
with
a
stopwatch.
struggle it just laid
(seconds)
This step is repeated 3 times.
there for a while doing
absolutely nothing
8)Step 7 is repeated with the 3 other solutions
Experiment 2:
Possible correlation was disproved by the 100% solution burrowing time average, which
1)3 grams of plastic was added to 120 ml of dechlorinated
decreased. This led us to create a second experiment to see if we would get different data.
water to a beaker and placed on a hot plate at the highest
The Effect of Direct Exposure to Various Concentrations of Water Bottle Plastic for 5 Minutes on heat for 15 minutes.
Burrowing Time of Worms
2)16 ml of the 120 ml solution was poured through a
funnel into 3 separate 100 ml beakers. 10 ml, 5 ml, and 1
Trial Trial 2 Average Qualitative Data
1
ml were poured into separate beakers.
The worms both burrowed
110
96
Control 82
3)5
ml
of
dechlorinated
water
was
added
to
the
beaker
into the soil with ease and
(seconds)
at they’re own pace
with 5 ml of plastic solution.
the worm didn’t seem to
196
190
193
25%
4)9 ml of dechlorinated water was added to the beaker
show any noticeable
(seconds)
differences from the
with 1 ml of plastic solution.
control while burrowing
5)10
ml
of
dechlorinated
water
was
measured
the
worms
laid
in
the
soil
387
382
384.5
50%
for a while to recuperate
6)
410
ml
solutions
were
poured
into
four
16
oz
cups
(seconds)
but then went back to
7)A worm was placed in each cup and another cup was
burrowing at a normal
pace
placed
over
the
worm
for
5
minutes.
The worms both laid still
525
422
472.5
100%
and motionless for about 3
8)After 5 minutes, the worms were taken out of the cups
(seconds)
minutes and then took a
and placed in a 9 oz cup of soil. Worms burrowing times
noticeably slower time to
burrow than the other
were measured from the time they were placed on the soil
worms
to the time their heads were no longer visible.
Compared to the results of experiment 1, the results of the second experiment were much
10.Steps 2 through 9 were repeated for trial 2
more consistent. As the concentration of the plastic solution increased, so did the average
Conclusion
burrowing time. A time constraint prevented us from completing a third trial, but we still
This lab investigated the effect of various
believed we had enough data and controls to make the experiment valid, as well as accept
concentrations of water bottle plastic on the burrowing
our hypothesis.
time of worms, and based on our data we accept our
hypothesis that greater concentrations of plastic would
Sources
Belcher, S. (2008, February 8). Plastic Bottles Release Potentially Harmful Chemicals
increase the burrowing time of worms. Although in our
(Bisphenol A)
first experiment the burrowing time of the 100 percent
After Contact With Hot Liquids. Retrieved October 31, 2015, from
solution unexpectedly dropped about twenty-one
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130092108.htm
seconds, the rest of the data supported the hypothesis,
Dolesh, R. J. (2014). The Problem with Bottled Water. Parks & Recreation, 49(5), 36.
Landa, J. (2014, January 13). More than 24,500 chemicals found in bottled water. Retrieved
especially shown in experiment two. These data and
October
results are significant to not only worms, but also to
27, 2015, from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/01/13/more-than-24500-chemicals-found-in-bottled-water.html
humans often exposed to plastic.