Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #150203

Title: ACCUMULATION FACTORS FOR ALKYLPHENOLS AND ALKYLPHENOL ETHOXYLATES IN CARP FROM THE CUYAHOGA RIVER

Author
item Rice, Clifford
item SCHMITZ-AFONSO, ISABELLE - USDA/ARS
item LOYO-ROSALES, JORGE - UNIVERSITY OF MD

Submitted to: Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2003
Publication Date: 11/9/2003
Citation: Rice, C., Schmitz-Afonso, I., Loyo-Rosales, J. 2003. Accumulation factors for alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates in carp from the Cuyahoga River [abstract]. SETAC 24th Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, Nov. 2003. p. 51.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Accumulation of a pollutant by fish depends on a number of factors. The exposure pathways are critical as are the properties of the chemical and the life habits of the fish. All of these factors appeared to affect how carp accumulate APEs in this study. Alkylphenols are ranked as moderately bioaccumulative, with literature values from bioaccumulation tests producing bioconcentration factors (BCF) for nonylphenol (NP) ranging from 200 to 300. Observations from field studies suggest that observed accumulations, bioaccumulation factors(BAFs), for NP may be lower. Little published data is available for the accumulation of APE ethoxymers for fish. In our studies of APEs (nonyls and octyls) in the Cuyahoga River, we measured concentrations in fish, water, and sediment from 7 locations spaced over 74 miles of the river. With these data, BAFs and biota sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) were calculated. The average BAF for NP was 280, and for NP1EO and NP2EO the BAF values were 1713 and 693, respectively. For the sediment BSAFs the following results were calculated: NP-1.5, NP1EO-4.4 and NP2EO-2.4. Data for the water and sediment bioaccumulation factors for the octylphenol ethoxylates were similar to those measured for the nonylphenol ethoxylates.