Growth retardation and elemental differences in juvenile Armadillidium vulgare latreille exposed to lead nitrate

Although it is well established that isopods store heavy metals, especially zinc, cadmium, lead and copper, there is relatively little known about the effects of these metals on the isopod. The literature is sparse relating to the effects of non-essential heavy metals on concentrations of essential elements in isopods. The contaminated isopods assimilated insignificant concentrations of lead in their tissues. In a recent study adult A. vulgare exposed to lead sequestered copper and zinc in the hepatopancreas to levels far above the controls. In the present study, the effect of lead nitrate on A. vulgare recently released from the brood pouch was examined.