Chromium bioavailability in aquatic systems impacted by tannery wastewaters. Part 1: Understanding chromium accumulation by indigenous chironomids

The tanning industry uses large quantities of Cr whose contribution to the contaminant burden of aquatic organismsis not yet fully understood. The present study investigated Cr bioaccumulation by indigenous chironomids in a freshwater ecosystem impacted by tannery effluents. Total Cr content in sediments and in chironomidswas determined on several occasions. Chromium distribution among sediments and pore waters, and Cr speciation in overlying and pore waters were studied in detail to understand possible factors controlling Cr bioavailability to chironomids. Total chromium concentration ranged from 69 to over 3000 mu g g(-1) dry weight in sediments and fromnegligible to over 300 mu g g(-1) dryweight in chironomids (values corrected for sediment gut content). Filterable (