NONYLPHENOL ANALYSIS

Abstract

A study was undertaken in an earlier work assignment (No.1-12) in this contract to expose two species of fish in both short-term acute exposures and longer-term chronic exposures to nonylphenol. The following tests were conducted using Schenectady Chemical's high purity nonylphenol: A 96-h test of accumulation and survival starting with 4-wk-oldfathead minnows, Pimephales promelas Rafinesque, a 28-d test of growth and survival starting with 4-wk-old fathead minnows, a 96-h test of accumulation and survival starting with 13-15-wk-old bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, and a 28-d test of growth and survival starting with 11-13-wk-old bluegills. Survival was measured in both types of exposures and tissue accumulations of nonylphenol were measured in the longer-term exposures during work assignment No. 1-12. During this work assignment (No. 2-15), tissue accumulations were measured in all fish stored in iso-octane from the short-term acute exposures. Since the unanalyzed fish have been stored in the freezer for six months, several of the remaining fish from the chronic exposures were extracted for nonylphenol to determine if there was any significant change in the tissue concentration due to extended storage time. Total lipid content was measured for selected fish in both types of exposures.