Silkworms as bioindicators for assessing environmental toxicity and ecological risks

Abstract

Environmental toxicity assessment is crucial for understanding the risks that pollutants pose to ecosystems. Traditional testing methods often rely on higher organisms like rodents and fish, which can be costly, time-consuming and raise ethical concerns. Silkworms (Bombyx mori L.) provide an effective, ethical and affordable alternative for environmental toxicity testing. With a short life cycle and well-understood biology, silkworms are highly sensitive to a range of pollutants, including heavy metals, pesticides and nanomaterials, making them valuable for Ecotoxicological studies. The advantages of using silkworms in toxicity testing, such as their rapid reproduction, ease of maintenance and ability to produce large datasets. Silkworms show clear biochemical and physiological responses to toxic substances, including changes in enzyme activity, oxidative stress markers and reproductive health. These responses offer important insights into the mechanisms of toxicity and help identify biomarkers for environmental monitoring. The use of silkworms in detecting pollutants in aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric environments. Silkworms are particularly useful in high-throughput screening, bio monitoring and predictive modeling, which allow researchers to evaluate the long-term effects of contaminants. In conclusion, silkworms are an effective and ethical tool for ecological risk assessments, offering a scalable method for identifying environmental hazards and supporting more informed environmental management and policy decisions.