The growth and heavy metal experiments revealed oppositive interactions between toxic metals(Zn and Cd) and Mn when the coastal diatom T. pseudonana were used. Cd and Zn inhibited the algal growth rate only at low Mn ion concentrations and this effect could be accounted for an inhibition of cellular Mn take by the toxic metals. Mn and Zn inhibited cellular Cd take and this indicated a reciprocal effects among the metals with respect to metal take. Saturation kinetics modeling of the take data was consistent with two metals competing with each other for binding to the Mn take system and with both Cd and Mn being transported into the cell by that system. Mathematical modeling of Mn and Cd take data revealed evidence fur a Cd efflux system.