A number of recent studies have examined the impact of acute cadmium exposure on early zebrafish development at the morphological, cellular, and molecular levels. However, no information on the accumulation and elimination of cadmium during early life stages of zebrafish development has been available. Here we have quantified cadmium accumulation in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy following short-term acute exposure and recovery periods. Zebrafish (80 h postfertilization) were exposed to various concentrations of cadmium (0.2, 1.0, 5.0, 25, 125 microM) for 3 h. Cadmium accumulation in larvae increased with exposure concentration. After exposure at 5.0, 25, and 125 microM cadmium, the fish were allowed to recover in freshwater for 0, 12, or 24 h. Cadmium content did not show a statistically significant decrease over the recovery period when exposed to 5.0 or 25 microM cadmium, whereas significant losses over the recovery period were observed following 125 microM exposure. These results suggest that the larval zebrafish decrease total cadmium body burden only following relatively high short-term acutely toxic exposures.