Modelling cadmium bioaccumulation in Gammarus pulex by using experimental design approach

Recently, although dynamic approaches have been used increasingly to describe metal bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms, the validation of such laboratory-derived modelling is rarely assessed under environmental conditions. The present study aims to evaluate and verify statistical and mathematical models for the bioaccumulation of cadmium (Cd) and to evaluate the suitability of Gammarus pulex as a biomonitor for Cd. To optimise Cd2+ ion bioaccumulation conditions a Box–Behnken design was used and whether G. pulex can be used as an estimated tool to assess aquatic quality was investigated. A Box–Behnken experimental design combined with response surface modelling (RSM) was employed for Cd2+ bioaccumulation in G. pulex. Independent variables including temperature, contact time and Cd2+ ion concentration significance and their interactions were tested using analysis of variance. The selected variables’ optimum values were obtained by solving the quadratic regression model along with by analysing the response surface contour plots. Based on Box–Behnken design, the applied model is significant because model F-value and R2 were obtained as 5121.49, 0.9998, respectively. Bioaccumulation of Cd amount was analysed using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The obtained data suggest that G. pulex can be evaluated as Cd biomonitor.