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Accumulation of cadmium by freshwater benthic organisms is affected by the presence of other metals

Conference ·
OSTI ID:37431
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)
The effect of a suite of metals (Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni) on Cd accumulation by a rooted macrophyte and a freshwater mussel was examined in a mesocosm experiment during the summer of 1992. Cd was added alone to treatment 1 and together with the metal suite (at three dosage levels) to treatments 2, 3 and 4. Each treatment was represented by two mesocosms. The limnocorrals were sampled at three times over the summer (t = 0, 40 and 80 days). The metal suite increased the residence time of Cd in the water column and caused a reduction in the adsorption of Cd onto sediment particles. Cd contents in plant roots were significantly higher in treatments with the metal suite and were found to increase with the dose of the metal suite. An overall reduction in the amount of metal-induced metallothionein (MT) in the mussel kidneys was found with the highest doses of the metal suite. These results suggest that the total metal complement affects the uptake of Cd in a dose-dependent fashion and should be considered when setting water or sediment quality guidelines.
OSTI ID:
37431
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English