Abstract: The heavy metals accumulated by bivalve mollusks present risks to human consumers. Kinetic parameters were measured for bioconcentration of three heavy metals Hg, Pb, Cd by Ruditapes philippinarum with a kinetic model of two- compartment. It was shown that: biconcentration and elimination of heavy metals in shellfish occurred slowly and the stationary balance did not reach after 30d, while the biological half-lives of Hg, Pb, Cd range from 18～33d, and the bioconcentration factors (BCF) of Hg, Pb and Cd are respectively 1030, 935 and 378. According to safety consumption limits set by EC and China about Hg, Pb and Cd for Ruditapes philippinarum, safety levels of Hg, Pb, Cd in the culturing waters are achieved after equivalent calculation through BCF: Hg 0.0005mg/L, Pb 0.01mg/L and Cd 0.026mg/L respectively.

Key words: Ruditapes philippinarum, heavy metal, culturing water, safety level