Lethality and bioaccumulation of 4-nonylphenol in bluegill sunfish in littoral enclosures
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Superior, WI (United States). Lake Superior Research Inst.
- Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (United States). Mid-Continent Ecology Div.
Toxicity and bioaccumulation in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) of 4-nonylphenol (NP), a common precursor and degradation intermediate of certain nonionic surfactants, were evaluated in a set of 18 aquatic mesocosms (littoral enclosures) in northeastern Minnesota. Nonylphenol was applied to enclosures every 48 h over a 20-d period (11 applications) at rates of 3, 30, 100, and 300 {micro}g/L. Additional enclosures served as untreated controls. Maximum NP levels in the integrated water column 2 h after each application averaged 5 {+-} 4, 23 {+-} 11, 76 {+-} 21, and 243 {+-} 41 {micro}g/L over the 11 applications at the 3-, 30-, 100-, and 300-{micro}g/L treatments, respectively. Sixty-one percent of the NP dissipated from the water column within {approximately} 39 h of each application. Estimated survival of stocked juvenile bluegills was significantly reduced at the 300-{micro}g/L NP treatment. No significant effects were noted at the other NP treatments; however, the 100-{micro}g/L enclosure with the highest mean NP concentration (93 {+-} 39 {micro}g/L) within that treatment had four to nine times more dead bluegills and four to six times fewer bluegills captured at the end of the season than the other two 100-{micro}g/L enclosures (64 {+-} 23 and 71 {+-} 32 {micro}g/L) and the controls, suggesting increased mortality in this enclosure. Nonylphenol tissue concentrations in juvenile bluegills collected from enclosures treated with 3 and 30 {micro}g/L NP ranged from 0.01 to 2.94 {micro}g/g wet weight and showed a significant positive relationship with the average measured NP concentration in the water. The mean wet weight nonequilibrium NP bioaccumulation factor was 87 {+-} 124. There was no relationship between fish lipid content and NP tissue concentration.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 355584
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 18; ISSN 0730-7268; ISSN ETOCDK
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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