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Bioconcentration of hydrophobic chemicals in fish: Relationship with membrane permeation
Author(s) -
Gobas Frank A. P. C.,
Opperhuizen Antoon,
Hutzinger Otto
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620050704
Subject(s) - bioconcentration , permeation , chemistry , kinetics , reaction rate constant , membrane , hydrophobic effect , fish <actinopterygii> , diffusion , environmental chemistry , facilitated diffusion , chromatography , biophysics , organic chemistry , biochemistry , bioaccumulation , thermodynamics , biology , fishery , physics , quantum mechanics
A model is presented for the bioconcentration in fish of nonpolar hydrophobic chemicals that are not metabolized. The model assumes that diffusion rates through membrane‐diffusion layer barriers influence uptake and depuration kinetics in fish. For extremely hydrophobic (log K d, oct > 3 to 4) chemicals, uptake rate constants in fish are independent of the solute's hydrophobicity, whereas for low to moderately hydrophobic chemicals proportionality between these parameters is observed. Additionally, elimination rate constants for low to moderately hydrophobic chemicals are independent of the solute's hydrophobicity. In contrast, the elimination rate constants for extremely hydrophobic chemicals, such as polychlorobenzenes and ‐naphthalenes, are inversely proportional to hydrophobicity. In the model presented, this is due to the rates of release from the lipid compartments of the fish. The general relationships between bioconcentration kinetic parameters and hydrophobicity are in agreement with experimental data.