In this paper we examine the mineralogy of sediments and the distribution of chromium between particle-size classes, and describe the contaminated sediment distribution in the upper Dunajec River. No relationship between grain-size classes and Cr concentration was found in the contaminated sediments, but chromium concentration increased with decreasing grain-size in non-contaminated sediments. Fragments of leather were identified in the bottom sediments in proximity to wastewater discharges from tanneries. At each of the contaminated sites, Cr is enriched in the organic fraction of the uppermost surface sediments, while the clay fraction is relatively poor in this metal. The contamination factor in sediments is about 100.