Accumulation of cadmium and bioenergetics in the mussel Mytilus edulis

Accumulation rates of cadmium, the amount of food ingested and assimilated, the amount of oxygen consumed and changes in dry flesh weight have been measured in Mytilus edulis L. exposed to 0, 10 and 100 ppb cadmium for 17 d in aquaria with seawater flowing continuously and at constant algal concentration. The accumulation rates were linear at 10 and 100 ppb, amounting to 0.58 and 8.98 ppm d super(-1), respectively. Body loads up to 150 ppm caused no effects on either clearance, ingestion, assimilation, respiration, or growth. High net growth efficiencies between 55-59% were obtained, indicating near optimal experimental conditions.