Abstract
Uptake of 51Cr(III) is faster than uptake of 51Cr(VI), but it occurs mainly on the surface of the animals. Steady state is attained after 28 d. The resulting concentration factor is about 200. Although the uptake of 51Cr(VI) is slower, it is more intensively distributed into the organs and tissues of the animals. Steady state was not attained during the experiments (35 d); the highest concentration factor reached was about 10. The uptake of both 51Cr(III) and 51Cr(VI) seems to be passive. For both chemical forms of chromium, the loss rate is inversely proportional to the exposure time. When the uptake lasted longer, owing to the distribution of Cr(VI) into the organs and tissues, the loss rate of Cr(III) is somewhat faster relative to the loss rate of 51Cr(VI). The opposite is the case when the uptake of both forms lasts only two days. On the basis of the distribution and loss experiments, we argue that hexavalent chromium in living organisms is reduced to the trivalent form and then complexed with organic molecules.
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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
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Peternac, B., Legović, T. Uptake, distribution and loss of Cr in the crab Xantho hydrophilus . Marine Biology 91, 467–471 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392597
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392597