Ion-selective microelectrode measurements of Tl+ and K+ transport by the gut and associated epithelia in Chironomus riparius

Thallium (Tl) is a non-essential metal that is mobilized through industrial processes, subsequently entering aquatic environments where it can exert toxic effects. Although the aquatic larvae of the midge, Chironomus riparius, are exceptionally tolerant toward many waterborne non-essential metals, few studies have looked at the cellular mechanism of this tolerance. Tl⁺ and K⁺ share the same charge and have similar ionic radii, resulting in …