Assessing the impact of waterborne and dietborne cadmium toxicity on susceptibility risk for rainbow trout

The purpose of this study was to use a risk-based integrated-scale toxicological model to examine the impact of waterborne and dietborne cadmium (Cd) toxicity on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) susceptibility appraised with recent published data. A probabilistic assessment model was performed to estimate Cd susceptibility risk. The dose–response models were constructed based on two endpoints of % Cd in metabolically active pool (MAP) and susceptibility time that causes 50% effect (ST50). We further constructed an elimination–detoxification–recovery scheme to enhance the model predictive ability. We found a 95% probability of % Cd in gill and liver MAP exceeding 47–49% and it was likely (70% probability) to have exceeded 52–55%, but it was unlikely (30% probability) to have exceeded 56–60%. In contrast to gill and liver, gut had a relative lower Cd susceptibility risk (15–17% Cd in MAP) with a longer ST50. We suggested that the proposed probabilistic risk assessment framework can incorporate the elimination–detoxification–recovery scheme to help government based biomonitoring and bioassessment programs to prevent potential aquatic ecosystems and human health consequences.

Research Highlights
► An integrated-scale toxicological model was used to examine the impact of Cd on rainbow trout.
► A probabilistic assessment model was performed to estimate Cd susceptibility risk.
► An elimination-detoxification-recovery scheme was constructed to enhance the model predictive ability.
► Gut had a relative lower Cd susceptibility risk than that in gill and liver.