title: The bioaccumulation of cadmium by the Blue Swimmer Crab Portunus pelagicus L.
abstract: The Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus pelagicus) accumulates only cadmium in the hepatopancreas after being presented elevated levels of the metals Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Fe and Al via a food source, the mussel Trychomya hirsuta. Over 8 weeks, crabs were fed a controlled diet to determine the accumulation of metals. Significant (P = 0.05) Cd accumulation was detected after 4 weeks of feeding. Food mussels were sourced from either 'contaminated' or 'uncontaminated' sites. Mussels from uncontaminated sites had an average Cd level of 0.07 microg/g wet weight and contaminated mussels had an average of 5.2 microg/g wet weight. The usefulness of presenting metals in this way to assess potential bioaccumulators is further considered against other presentation methods.
authors.affiliation: University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia. rmcpherson@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D003386:Brachyura / Q000737:chemistry*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D020387:Food Chain; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium