Bioaccumulation of chromium in red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii)

Abstract

Crayfish were exposed to a range of potassium dichromate concentrations (0.15, 0.30, 3.0 and 30 mg l −1) for periods up to 7 weeks. Chromium bioaccumulation in all tissues over the 7 week exposure period was not consistently time- and dose-dependent. The order of distribution of chromium into the various tissues was dependent upon the exposure concentration of the metal. Chromium clearance studies conducted 1 and 3 weeks following exposure demonstrated a concentration reduction in most tissues only at the highest exposure concentration of chromium (30 mg l −1). Histological studies demonstrated damage to both the gills and hepatopancreas at the lowest exposure concentration. The results suggest that the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, is a useful biomarker for chromium exposure.