Kinetics of cadmium accumulation and elimination in carp Cyprinus carpio tissues

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) were tested for cadmium accumulation and elimination during and after a simulated pollution exposure. Fish were distributed in two 1000-1 indoor concrete aquaria supplied with a continuous flow (8 l min (-1)) of well water. The cadmium concentration was maintained at 53 mu g l( -1) in one aquarium and 443 mu g l(-1) in the other aquarium for 127 days. The exposure phase was followed by a 43-day depuration period. The cadmium accumulation in liver, kidney and muscle was measured by means of ICP-MS. T he data showed that cadmium exposure produces significant cadmium uptake in tissues. Cadmium concentrations increased sharply in kidney and liver, whe reas the pollutant level in muscle was only significant after 106 days. Aft er 127 days of Cd exposure (53 mu g l(-1)), the cadmium concentration in ki dney was 4-fold higher than in liver and 50-fold higher than in muscle for a toxic level of 53 mu g l(-1). At a Cd of 443 pg l(-1): kidney cadmium con tent was 2-fold higher than in liver and 100-fold higher than in muscle. In kidney and liver, the toxic concentration increased as the concentration o f pollutant in water increased. During the 43 depuration days, the loss of accumulated cadmium was rapid and immediate in muscle. Conversely, no loss of cadmium was observed in kidney and liver. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.