Arsenic Uptake and Depuration by Red Swamp Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

Paddy rice soils, which can contain elevated levels of arsenic, also have importance in crayfish production in Louisiana (USA). In this study, arsenic accumulation and depuration in the tissues of crayfish ( Procamborus clarkii ) exposed to different As concentrations were determined. For this purpose, crayfish were exposed to 3 different concentrations of As (0,2; 0,8 and 2 mg As L -1 ) for 14 days and then kept in As free water for following 14 days. Arsenic concentrations were determined in crayfish tissues (gill, muscle, exoskeleton, hepatopancreas) during both the accumulation (1, 3, 7 and 14th days) and depuration (15, 17, 21, and 28th days) phases. During the accumulation period, arsenic concentration in the tissues was found to increase proportionally with time and exposure concentrations: gill > hepatopancreas > exoskeleton > muscle. During this period, however, the arsenic concentration in the tissues did not reach the equilibrium. In the depuration phase, arsenic elimination varied ranging between 54.63-87.91% in the hepatopancreas, 42.69 to 74.21% in the gills, 35.56-73.55% in the exoskeletons and 26.75-49.84% in the muscles.