• The rate of cadmium accumulation in the haemolymph is proportional to the dissolved cadmium concentration to which the crab is exposed (and hence to the rate of uptake by the crab).

• Accumulation of labelled cadmium in the haemolymph continues until a labelled cadmium concentration is reached that represents an equilibrium between the uptake of labelled cadmium into the haemolymph and the export of labelled cadmium to the tissues.

• The rapid removal of cadmium from the haemolymph indicates that the haemolymph is only a transport route for cadmium.

• Cadmium was unable to replace haemolymph zinc indicating either that zinc is bound too tightly for replacement by cadmium or that it occupies different binding sites in the haemolymph to cadmium.

To read more about my work check out.......

'The kinetics  of zinc and cadmium in the haemolymph of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas (L)'
Aquat. Toxicol. 40: 203-231 (1998).

'Haemocyanin, and the transport of zinc and cadmium in the haemolymph of the shore crab Carcinus maenas (L)'
Sci. Total Environ. 214: 133-152 (1998).

This research was carried out at Queen Mary, University of London, whilst in receipt of a NERC studentship.