The acute toxicity of cadmium on turtle Mauremys reevesii

This research was designed to investigate the acute toxic effect of cadmium chloride on freshwater turtle Mauremys reevesii. Mauremys reevesiis were exposed to a wide range of cadmium chloride by intraperitoneal injection for 7 days and the survival numbers of the animals were noted to determine the dose of cadmium chloride for 0% mortality rate (Dn) and the dose of cadmium chloride for 100% mortality rate (Dm). Karber’s method was used to test the LD₅₀ of cadmium chloride in Mauremys reevesii. The results showed that cadmium has acute toxic effect on freshwater turtle Mauremys reevesii. Dm and Dn were 500 and 20 mg·kg⁻¹ separately. The LD₅₀ value was 89.8 mg·kg⁻¹ for cadmium chloride, with the 95% confidence limit of 85.2–98.5 mg·kg⁻¹. The results indicated that cadmium had acute toxicity on turtle Mauremys reevesii.