Accumulation of cadmium by abarenicola pacifica

The bioavailability of trace metals to marine organisms depends on trace metal partitioning among geochemical phases and on the kinetics of uptake from each phase. This study was undertaken to develop a kinetic model for trace metal uptake based on equilibrium partitioning of the metal in aqueous and sedimentary phases. A three compartment model was developed and used to estimate the accumulation of cadmium under short term laboratory conditions. The rate of cadmium uptake from bentonite clay, humic acid, ferric hydroxide, and seawater was measured for the deposit-feeding polychaete Abarenicola pacifica. The results show that, under the conditions of this study, bentonite clay and ferric hydroxide can be more important sources of cadmium than seawater for Abarenicola pacifica.