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Acute toxicity and toxicokinetics of 4‐heptylphenol in juvenile atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.)
Author(s) -
Tollefsen KnutErik,
Ingebrigtsen Kristian,
Olsen Anders Johny,
Zachariassen Karl Erik,
Johnsen Ståle
Publication year - 1998
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.5620170431
Subject(s) - toxicokinetics , gadus , atlantic cod , bioconcentration , chemistry , environmental chemistry , toxicity , partition coefficient , biotransformation , acute toxicity , seawater , chromatography , biology , bioaccumulation , biochemistry , ecology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , enzyme , organic chemistry
Heptylphenol has been detected in produced water from various oil production platforms in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea and may be of environmental concern due to hydrophobic properties and slow biodegradation in the marine environment. The n ‐octanol/water partition coefficient of 4‐heptylphenol (4‐HP) was estimated by a high‐performance liquid chromatographic correlation analysis. Acute toxicity and toxicokinetics of 4‐HP in juvenile Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.) were investigated in flow‐through exposure systems using unlabeled and 14 C‐labeled 4‐HP, respectively. The results show that 4‐HP was moderately hydrophobic (log K ow = 4.5) and toxic to juvenile cod (96 h LC50 = 2.9 μmol/L). The toxicokinetics of 4‐HP was calculated using a one‐compartment first‐order kinetic (1CFOK) model ( k 1 = 29.94 ± 1.83, k 2 = 0.052 ± 0.011/h, t 95 ≈ 58 h and t 1/2 ≈ 13 h). The values obtained corresponded to a steady‐state and kinetic bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 555 and 578, respectively. The distribution pattern of 4‐HP (and/or metabolites) at steady state and after 96 h of recovery in uncontaminated seawater was dominated by the gastrointestinal system possibly owing to biotransformation and elimination through these organs. The results also revealed that neither 4‐HP nor possible metabolites bind to macromolecules or tissue structures in the fish.