TOXICITY AND METABOLISM OF 4-N-NONYLPHENOL IN CELL-SUSPENSION CULTURES OF DIFFERENT PLANT-SPECIES

4-Nonylphenol, a metabolite of nonionic surfactants, is a compound of environmental concern due to its aquatic toxicity and estrogenic effec ts. The phytotoxicity of 4-n-nonylphenol was tested in 14 different ce ll suspension cultures. Except for carrot cells, 4-n-nonylphenol was t oxic to all plant cells tested. The concentration causing 50% growth r eduction in cell suspension cultures differed between plant species an d ranged from 0.05 to more than 1.00 mM. The metabolism of 4-n-nonyl[U -C-14]phenol was investigated with cell suspension cultures according to a standardized test procedure (Langebartels, C.; Harms, H. Angew. B ot 1986, 9, 113-123). The distribution of radioactivity in fractions w as dependent on the incubation time, dose, and plant species tested. E very plant species in cell suspension culture exhibited a unique metab olic behavior with respect to quantitative and qualitative parameters. However, there were similarities among taxonomically related plant sp ecies. There is evidence that the tolerance to 4-n-nonylphenol is corr elated with the formation of nonextractable residues. Nonextractable r esidues were characterized with respect to the cell wall fractions con taining radioactivity. With 7 of 12 cell cultures, lignin was the main fraction with radioactivity.