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Evaluation of aquatic toxicity and bioaccumulation of C8‐ and C9‐alkylphenol ethoxylates
Author(s) -
Staples Charles A.,
Weeks John,
Hall Jerry F.,
Naylor Carter G.
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.5620171213
Subject(s) - bioaccumulation , bioconcentration , alkylphenol , invertebrate , environmental chemistry , chronic toxicity , aquatic toxicology , ecotoxicology , acute toxicity , aquatic ecosystem , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , toxicity , ecology , toxicology , chemistry , fishery , alkyl , organic chemistry
The extensive database of acute and chronic aquatic toxicity data for alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and selected biodegradation intermediates was reviewed and summarized for freshwater and saltwater aquatic microorganisms, algae, invertebrates, and fish inhabiting cold and warm water bodies. Most acute toxicity studies that tested APE‐9 and APE‐10, the most common commercially relevant APEs, reported results that ranged from about 1,000 to 10,000 μg/L. Results from studies testing alkylphenols, intermediate by‐products of APE biodegradation, ranged from about 20 to 3,000 μg/L. Chronic values are a factor of about 2 to 10 lower. Although most studies used one of several common species and standard protocols to assay conventional endpoints, many nontraditional species and toxicological endpoints were also used. This toxicological database encompasses virtually all important types of aquatic habitats and classes of aquatic species. Bioaccumulation data from both laboratory and field studies indicate that alkylphenols have a low to moderate bioaccumulation potential. Fresh weight, nonlipid‐based bioconcentration factors (BCFs) measured in the laboratory ranged from < 1 to 1,250 for fish and 1 to 3,400 for invertebrates, whereas field bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) ranged from 6 to 487, with most values < 100. Overall, these data provide an extensive and useful database to support environmental risk assessment activities.