Uptake and excretion of lead by liter-dwelling collembola

High lead concentrations in the food of litter-dwelling Collembola appear not to have any harmful effects. Most of the lead remains unabsorbed and is concentrated in the faeces. Of the absorbed lead 30% is stored in intestinal epithelium cells and excreted by periodic renovation of the intestinal epithelium, which occurs at each moulting. This process replaces excretion by Malpighian tubules which are lacking in Collembola. Fifteen percent of the absorbed lead is in the exuviae. The concentration of lead in faeces and in the mid-gut epithelium may be of importance for the food-chain associated with collembolan products.