Copper bioaccumulation and depuration by red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

Red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, were exposed to sublethal concentrations of copper sulfate to assess bioaccumulation and depuration by different tissues. During the first two weeks of the eight-week exposure, maximum Cu accumulation occurred in exoskeleton, followed by gills and abdomen. After eight weeks, gills contained the highest concentration, followed by exoskeleton and abdomen; in all three tissues, accumulation was time-dependent. When crayfish were transferred to uncontaminated freshwater, most of the Cu depuration occurred within the first two weeks, but was time-dependent until the end of the experimental period.