Heavy metals in marine nematodes: Uptake,tissue distribution and loss of copper and zinc

The uptake and loss of copper and zinc was studied in two species of marine nematode from a non-polluted site and in one species from a polluted site. Copper and zinc concentrations were measured during and after accumulation from seawater in six different tissues of the nematodes. Most of the metal taken up was found to be associated with the cuticle and with a group of tissues including the hypodermis. The importance of the different tissues in heavy metal metabolism by the nematodes is discussed together with the possible routes of uptake of the metals into the animals.