Sediments are known for their significant storage and releasing capacities of various contaminants, and for sheltering numerous invertebrate species. Studying such a complex compartment is essential for evaluating the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Studies using either geochemical or biological approaches to assess the environmental impact of contaminated sediments are widely documented. In this study, led within the framework of the French project DIESE, we present original data obtained by coupling these two approaches. We exposed simultaneously Diffusive Gradient in Thin films (DGT) and three macroinvertebrates species, characterized by their particular behaviour in the sediment (Chironomus riparius, insect; Potamopyrgus antipodarum, mollusk; Gammarus fossarum, crustacean), to a natural sediment Cd-spiked at environmental relevant concentrations, ranging around the Threshold Effect Concentration (0.99mg/kg) and the Probable Effect Concentration (4.98mg/kg). Using Cd accumulation kinetic in DGT, we determined the labile partition coefficient (Kdl) between the solid and dissolved labile phases and the response time (Tc) of Cd sorption process. We also measured pore water Cd concentrations and determined the nature of sediment-bound Cd by means of sequential extraction. The battery of organisms tested allowed both measuring the bioaccumulation and studying life-history traits related to population dynamic (e.g. survival rate, reproduction, feeding rate, growth rate). Sequential extraction shows that the percentage of carbonates-bound Cd increases simultaneously with Cd-spiking level. In this range of Cd concentrations, the high carbonate content of sediment(54%) seems to represent an unlimited pool of binding sites for Cd. Results provided by DGT indicate that Cd is poorly released from sediment to pore water, whatever the metal concentration. This suggests that Cd bound to the carbonate phase is very weakly labile for DGT. Cadmium measurement in the whole organisms indicates that C. riparius bioaccumulates more Cd than G. fossarum and P. antipodarum, showing that Cd bioaccumulation gives consistent information with the known behaviour of the organisms: internal Cd concentration can be used as an exposure biomarker. No dose-response relationship could be established whatever the endpoints used for all tested organisms. As observed for the geochemical approach, the biological responses confirm that Cd bound to carbonates is poorly available for benthic organisms.