Single and joint effects of Zn and Cd on Porcellio scaber (Crustacea, Isopoda) exposed to artificially contaminated food.

This study aimed at determining effects of Zn, Cd and their equitoxic mixtures on metal assimilation and food consumption of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber, in relation to metal availability in the food. Cd was four times less water-extractable than Zn. Cd or Zn extractability was affected neither by metal concentration nor by the presence of the other metal. In single metal exposures, assimilation efficiency (AE) was up to five times higher for Cd than for Zn. In a mixture, AE of Cd significantly increased at low mixture concentrations and decreased at high mixture concentrations. AE of Zn significantly increased at intermediate mixture concentrations. Effects of the Zn and Cd mixture on food consumption were additive (28-day EC(50,total)=1.10TU; EC(50,water-extractable)=1.18TU) when based on total and water-extractable concentrations but antagonistic when related to internal metal concentrations in the isopods (EC(50,internal)=1.40TU).