Influence of Water Hardness on Accumulation and Elimination of Cadmium in Two Aquatic Mosses Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract.

This study investigated the effect of water hardness on the accumulation and elimination of cadmium (Cd) by two aquatic mosses, Fontinalis dalecarlica and Platyhypnidium riparioides, under laboratory conditions. The two mosses were exposed to nominal Cd concentrations of 0, 0.8, 2, and 10 μg · L⁻¹, which includes the concentration range generally found in nature. The influence of three levels of water hardness (very soft: 11.7 mg · L⁻¹; soft: 44.2 mg · L⁻¹; and hard water: 92.3 mg · L⁻¹ as CaCO₃) was measured while maintaining the alkalinity and pH constant during the 28-day exposure. The Cd accumulation by the aquatic mosses was rapid, showing the potential of accumulation and the sensitivity of this biomonitor. Even if the actual Cd concentration in the water was low (concentration <0.15 μg · L⁻¹ to 6.82 μg · L⁻¹ of Cd), the uptake of Cd was very fast and mostly linear. This study was conducted in water hardness comparable to that found in the Canadian shield (hardness was <100 mg · L⁻¹ as CaCO₃). When the actual Cd concentration in the water was as high as 6.82 μg · L⁻¹, the uptake of Cd was mostly linear and the steady state condition was not reach. Accumulation rates of Cd were significantly different when the mosses were in very soft (11.7 mg · L⁻¹) as compared to hard water (92.3 mg · L⁻¹ as CaCO₃). The elimination of Cd followed a very slow process for the two species studied. The elimination rates of Cd from the mosses were not influenced by water hardness.