FREE AND CONJUGATED CONCENTRATIONS OF 9 RESIN ACIDS IN RAINBOW-TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS-MYKISS) FOLLOWING WATERBORNE EXPOSURE

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to nine resin acids that included abietic, dehydroabietic, chlorodehydroabietic, dichlorodehydroabietic, neoabietic, pimaric, isopimaric, sandaracopimaric, and palustric acids. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for these acids ranged from < 25 to 130 among fish that were exposed to mean waterborne concentrations of 0.7 to 3.6 mug/L for 20 d. Total free and conjugated acid concentrations ranged from 1 to 3 mg/kg on a wholebody basis. There was a significant relationship (P < 0.01) between decreasing percentage of conjugated/total acid and increasing BCF. Elimination rates were also monitored over a 10-d period, although no detectable levels were observed. Based on initial chemical concentrations, it was concluded that the half-lives of these acids were < 4 d.