Bioaccumulation of trace metals in the Antarctic amphipod Orchomene plebs: evaluation of toxicokinetic models.
Bioaccumulation of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in Antarctic gammaridean amphipod collectives, Orchomene plebs (Hurley, 1965), was investigated during a cruise of RV "Polarstern" to the Wedell Sea. With the sole exception of Cd the organisms accumulated metals during exposure and depurated them in uncontaminated seawater. Four independent toxicokinetic experiments and one field study were modelled simultaneously to calculate the following size-dependent bioconcentration factors for organisms with body length 10 mm (BCF(10 mm)): 130 (Co), 4030 (Cu), 190 (Ni), 2900 (Pb), and 5210 (Zn). On the time scale of our experiments the data suggest an increased metal uptake by previously exposed test organisms. The collectives investigated may be regarded as potentially suitable biomonitors for Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn but not for Cd. An approach to evaluate the sensitivity of Orchomene plebs as a biomonitor of waterborne metals in the field indicates minimal increments of the ambient exposure concentrations of 0.01 microg Co l(-1), 0.2 microg Cu l(-1), 0.4 microg Ni l(-1), 0.6 microg Pb l(-1) and 0.3 microg Zn l(-1).
Kahle
J
J
Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Fachbereich Biologie, Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften (ICBM), Postfach 2503, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany.
Zauke
G-P
GP
D033304:Amphipoda / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D001824:Body Constitution; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014873:Water Pollutants