Heavy Metal Interactions during Accumulation and Elimination of Cadmium and Copper in the Liver of Juvenile Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of metal interaction on the accumulation and elimination of Cd and Cu in the liver of flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, exposed to sub-chronic Cd (0, 5, 10, 50, 100 ${\mu}g/L$)/Cu $(10 {\mu}g/L)$ mixture. Cd exposure resulted in an increased Cd accumulation in the liver of flounder for exposure periods and concentration, and Cd accumulation increased linearly with exposure time. Cu accumulation profiles were similar to those of Cd. Cd concentration in the liver significantly decreased at the 10th depuration period and elimination rate was $66.20\%,\;86.22\%$ in 50 and $100 {\mu}g/L$at the end of depuration periods, respectively. Although, Cu elimination was similar to Cd elimination phase, Cd elimination rate was higher than that of Cu. Co-relationship of Cd and Cu have a positive correlation coefficient r=0.8620 (P<0.001) and support the strong relationship between Cd and Cu accumulation. As increase with the Cd exposure concentration, there were significant (P<0.001) differences between Cd and Cu accumulation.