Toxicokinetics of heavy metals from a mining spill using Carcinus maenas.

The knowledge of the reproduction and growth background related to the shore crab Carcinus maenas promotes the use of this crab as a model crustacean to asses the potential for endocrine disruption in crustaceans. In addition, an enzyme linked inmunosorbent assay (ELISA), sensitive to the shore crab vitellogenin in serial hemolymph samples allows determination of the extent of disruption of the process of vitellogenesis in female crabs and its likely impact on reproductive output. Intermoult females Carcinus maenas were exposed to concentrations of Cd: 3 microgl(-1), Cu: 15 microgl(-1) and Zn: 700 microgl(-1) determined at the Guadalquivir estuary after the Aznalcóllar mining spill, during 21 days. Crab hemolymph samples, were taken every seven days, and analyzed through an ELISA for Carcinus maenas vitellogenin. Vitellogenin concentration along the time was fitted to a first order kinetic approach. Results showed a good correlation among experimental values and estimated ones. Metal exposure resulted in an increase in vitellogenin concentration in hemolymph, especially for cadmium.