Kinetics of Cd accumulation and elimination in tissues of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) exposed to dietary Cd

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation and elimination were investigated in the tissues (gill, intestine, kidney, lever and muscle) of juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, after sub-chronic dietary Cd exposure (0, 0.5, 5, 25 and 125 mg/kg). No mortality occurred during the sub-chronic exposure to dietary Cd. Specific growth rates of the rockfish estimated by weight and length were significantly different from those of the control, and a significant inverse relationship was observed between weight gain and the exposure concentration of dietary Cd at 25, 125 mg/kg. Cd accumulation in the tissues increased with exposure periods and concentrations for the 60 days of dietary Cd exposure. Cd accumulation in the intestine of rockfish was higher than other tissues, and the order of Cd accumulation in tissues were intestine > kidney ≈ liver > gill > muscle. Accumulation factors showed an increase with the exposure period and an inverse relationship between the accumulation factor and the exposure concentrations in the gill, intestine, liver and muscle, but not in kidney. Cd elimination in tissues of rockfish decreased during the 30 days of depuration except kidney and muscle. Intestine showed the fastest elimination rates of Cd at all concentrations compared with other tissues.