Bioconcentration of alcohol ethoxylates in carp (Cyprinus carpio).

M Wakabayashi, M Kikuchi, A Sato, T Yoshida

Index: Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 13(2) , 148-63, (1987)

Full Text: HTML

Abstract

The uptake, distribution, and clearance of three labeled nonionic surfactants, 14C-labeled dodecyl tetra(oxyethylene) ether [14C-C12-AE(4)], 14C-labeled dodecyl octa(oxyethylene) ether [14C-C12-AE(8)], and 14C-labeled dodecyl hexadeca(oxyethylene) ether [14C-C12-AE(16)] were investigated in carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to concentrations of 0.2-0.6 mg X liter-1, using whole-body autoradiography and the liquid scintillation counting method. 14C radioactivity was rapidly absorbed into the fish body and distributed in skin, nasal and oral cavities, gills, brain, hepatopancreas, kidney, gall bladder, and intestinal content at comparatively high concentrations. The calculated wet weight whole-body bioconcentration factor at steady state in the fish exposed to 14C-C12-AE(4), 14C-C12-AE(8), or 14C-C12-AE(16) for 72 hr was 310, 220, or 4.3, respectively. Clearance of 14C radioactivity from the fish body was rapid, with half-lives of 30-80 hr. The metabolites of 14C-C12-AE(4) were also examined in gills, blood, kidney, hepatopancreas, or gall bladder by thin-layer chromatography.