CADMIUM DISPOSITION IN THE EARTHWORM EISENIA-FETIDA

The disposition of cadmium was examined in the earthworm Eisenia fetid a using two exposure media, filter paper, and artificial soil. Uptake and elimination rates were estimated to be 0.03039 and 0.00895 hr(-1), respectively, for 1.25 mu g Cd/cm(2) filter paper exposure and 0.0051 2 and 0.00029 hr(-1), respectively, for 10 mu g Cd/g artificial soil e xposure. The distribution of cadmium was examined using whole body aut oradiography, tissue distribution, and subcellular localization. Cadmi um tissue distribution was exposure-dependent, while cadmium subcellul ar localization apparently was not exposure-dependent. Acid-soluble th iol levels, examined as an index of cadmium exposure, were too variabl e in nonexposed earthworms to serve as an indicator of cadmium exposur e. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.