DISPOSITION AND METABOLISM OF [H-3]-4-N-NONYLPHENOL IN RAINBOW-TROUT

In order to better understand the fate of nonylphenols consumed by aqu atic vertebrates, the fate of low (6 mu g kg(-1)) and high (25 mg kg(- 1)) doses of [H-3]4-n-nonylphenol was followed 48 h after a single ora l dose. In the low dose experiments 7.6 and 7.2% of the dose was excre ted into urine or bile whereas 46.5% was still present in of her tissu es of the fish. Irr the high dose experiment these compartments compri sed 3.0, 5.5 and 11.0% of the dose respectively. Radioactivity was wid ely distributed in trout tissues and organs, the highest concentration being in the digestive tract, liver and kidney. No identification of the nature of residues was performed on these tissues. A radio-HPLC :s ystem was developed for the analysis of biliary metabolites. Based on this method, more than 10 metabolites,were separated and tentatively i dentified by mass spectrometry. A major part of metabolites were glucu ronic acid conjugates of nonylphenol and related hydroxylated compound s. Hydroxylation and oxidation occur on the alkyl chain whereas indire ct evidence exists of an hydroxylation on the phenol ring of the molec ule. No trace of unchanged nonylphenol was found in bile anti urine. ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.