In this study, we used the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and conventional methods (including SEM-AVS models, BCR sequential extraction and total metal concentrations) to assess sediment Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb bioavailability to field inhabitant freshwater snails (Bellamya aeruginosa) from Chinese eutrophic lakes. The performance of these methods and the relationship between DGT measurements and conventional methods were evaluated. The results showed that DGT-measured metal concentrations have weak correlations with results from tests using SEM-AVS models as well as sequentially extracted European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) metal fractions. Among the methods used, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb measured by DGT were significantly correlated with metal concentrations in the tissue of snails, while SEM-AVS could predict Cr, Ni and Pb bioavailability well, but not SEM-AVS/fOC. Finally, BCR sequential extraction and total metal concentrations only correlated well with Pb bioavailability to snails. Overall, the results of this study indicated that DGT performed best in predicting metal accumulation in snails and which could be used to predict sediment metal bioavailability to field inhabitant snails from freshwater lake sediments due to their simple manipulation and validity. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.