Uranium uptake and depuration in the aquatic invertebrate Chironomus tentans

Evaluation of aqueous uranium (U) uptake and depuration in larvae of the midge Chironomus tentans were investigated in two separated experiments. First, a static-renewal experiment was performed with 10-d old C. tentans larvae exposed to 300 μg U/L. The animals steadily accumulated U ( K u = 20.3) approaching steady-state conditions (BAF = 56) in approximately 9–11 d. However, accumulated U was readily depurated ( K d = 0.36) with U tissue concentration decreasing rapidly within 3 d of the larvae being placed in clean water ( t 1/2 = 1.9 d). Also, the growth of C. tentans larvae appeared to decrease after 6–11 d of U exposure, probably due to the reallocation of resources into U detoxification mechanisms. However, growth significantly increased once C. tentans were transferred to clean water. A separate short-term experiment was performed to evaluate the possible mechanism of U uptake in this invertebrate. Results suggested a passive mechanism of U uptake coupled with an active mechanism of U depuration but no details related to the type of mechanisms or pathway was investigated. Aqueous uranium uptake and depuration in Chironomus tentans are rapid processes that appear to be associated with passive and active process of depuration.