With exposure experiment, this paper studied the accumulation and elimination of cadmium (Cd) in the viscera, muscle and gill of Paralichthys olivaceus, and the effects of TOC concentration in seawater on the Cd accumulation. The results showed that when the exposure concentration of Cd was 0.5 mg x L(-1), its accumulation in test tissues increased with time, and reached equilibrium on the 10th day. The accumulation was in order of viscera (147.73 mg x kg(-1) DW) > gill (15.55 mg x kg(-1) DW) > muscle (4.578 mg x kg(-1) DW), which meant that viscera was the main place for Cd accumulation. Determinations after moving the fish into clear seawater on the 13th day of exposure showed that due to depuration, the Cd accumulation in test tissues decreased with time. On the 15th day after moving, the Cd elimination was in order of viscera (80.66%) > gill (73.66%) > muscle (56.84%), suggesting that the Cd accumulation in Paralichthys olivaceus could be reduced to meet safe food standard. The TOC concentration in seawater had a significant effect on Cd accumulation, i.e., the accumulation of Cd decreased significantly with increasing TOC concentration, demonstrating that the TOC in seawater could decrease the bioavailability of cadmium.