The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects and interactions of various factors on the simultaneous accumulation of cadmium and mercury contaminants. Two chemical forms of mercury (HgCl 2 and CH 3 HgCl) were used in conjunction with inorganic cadmium (as CdCl 2 ). The effects of direct and trophic modes of accumulation were investigated. Daphnids (Daphnia magna) were exposed for 5 days to cadmium (CdCl 2 ) and mercury (HgCl 2 or CH 3 HgCl) in different combinations and concentrations. Exposure was provided either directly via water, or indirectly by providing contaminated algae (Chlorella vulgaris) as a food source. As it is often the case for aquatic organisms, methylmercury was found to be the form of mercury most efficiently accumulated by D. magna. The way of exposure to mercury was also a determinant, with the results depending on the chemical form used. Therefore, even though the preferential way of inorganic mercury accumulation was through the water, the preferential way for D. magna contaminated with methylmercury was through contaminated algae. However, accumulation of Cadmium was not significantly affected by the exposure way. Both cadmium and mercury were able to inhibit each other accumulation. Even though HgCl 2 was normally the mercury form that most efficiently inhibited cadmium accumulation, inhibition of CH 3 HgCl was more efficient in the presence of cadmium.