FATE OF SOME ANIONIC AND ALCOHOL ETHOXYLATE SURFACTANTS IN CARASSIUS-AURATUS

A summary of unpublished data produced during the 1970's is presented illustrating the fate of some of the major types of anionic and nonion ic surfactants in the goldfish. All surfactants were rapidly taken rtp , metabolised and eliminated by the fish. Elimination was significantl y slower in unfed goldfish due to decreased bile production and secret ion into the gut, which is the primary route of excretion for the surf actants. There was little evidence of intact material in the bile of g old fish or in water following depuration. Analysis of metabolites sug gests that biotransformation of anionic surfactants and alcohol ethoxy lates occurs via omega-oxidation followed by beta-oxidation. This lead s to the formation of short-chain metabolites of the parent material w hich are of much less concern because of their greatly diminished lipo philicity and therefore also their toxicity. Published bioconcentratio n factors based on C-14 are likely to greatly overestimate the BCF for the intact surfactant because of surfactant biotransformation and bec ause in many instances fish were not fed during bioconcentration exper iments.