Refining uptake and depuration constants for fluoroalkyl chemicals in Chironomus riparius larvae on the basis of experimental results and modelling.

The aims of this study were to determine depuration rates for a range of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) using Chironomus riparius, and to test a concentration-dependency hypothesis for the long-chain perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) for this species. Midge larvae were exposed to field sediments collected downstream of a fluorotelomer plant, and to the same sediment spiked with PFTrDA. Elimination kinetics results indicated complete elimination of all PFASs by chironomids after 42h.