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Abstract
Despite numerous ecosystems around the globe being contaminated with radiocesium (137Cs) and lead (Pb), considerable gaps still exist within the current literature on the dynamics of these contaminants under environmentally relevant conditions and the most effective tools to monitor them. I quantified and compared accumulation and depuration of 137Cs in four understudied aquatic species inhabiting a contaminated effluent canal. Additionally, I evaluated the use of metallothionein (MT) as a biomarker of metal exposure by investigating potential factors influencing MT induction and variability. My results demonstrate the importance of trophic level in the toxicokinetics of 137Cs and highlight the wide variability of 137Cs toxicokinetics among exposed aquatic species, even those with similar diets. Furthermore, I identified bullfrog tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus) as effective bioindicators of 137Cs. My results suggest MT alone is not an effective biomarker of metal exposure but could be used as a general biomarker of stressors.