Multi-metal interactions between Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in water flea Daphnia magna, a stable isotope experiment

Metal interaction effects were investigated in Daphnia magna during a simultaneous exposure to essential (Cu, Ni and Zn) and non-essential (Cd and Pb) metals at environmentally relevant concentrations using a stable isotope technique. The metals were applied in the following concentration ranges: 0.0125–0.2 μM for 106Cd, 0.025–0.25 μM for 65Cu and 204Pb, 0.1–1.25 μM for 62Ni and 67Zn. Cadmium and copper exhibited a suppressing effect on the uptake rates of all other metals present in the mixture with the exception to lead at all studied concentrations. The effect was already pronounced at low Cd and Cu concentrations and reached a maximum at the higher concentrations. Nickel and zinc showed weaker interactions with cadmium and between each other, while having no effect on copper and lead uptake. There was a high degree of correlation between Cd, Ni and Zn uptake rates indicating that these metals share in part common uptake or interaction pathways. Moreover, a significant correlation between Zn and Cu uptake processes suggests that more than one mechanism is involved in Zn accumulation since Cu is known to interact with Na uptake sites. The uptake of lead was marked by a high initial rate, but the uptake process reached saturation within 24 h. Cd applied at a concentration of 0.2 μM was the only metal which affected the lead uptake process by stimulation of the Pb uptake. Added to the medium at a concentration of 0.25 μM, lead in turn, increased copper uptake. Current work illustrates that metal interactions are significant and occur at low environmentally realistic concentrations affecting bioavailability of both toxic and essential metals.