TOXICITY AND FATE OF 9 TOXAPHENE FRACTIONS IN AN AQUATIC MODEL ECOSYSTEM

The acute toxicity (96 h LC50) of nine toxaphene fractions to bluegill fish (Lepomic macrochirus) varied from 2.6 to 29.0 jug/L (5.0 to 7.8 Mg/L for unfractionated toxaphene). Bluegill fish, snails (Helisoma sp.), daphnids (Daphnia magna), and algae (Oedogonium cardiacum) were exposed to two water concentrations of unfractionated toxaphene and three of its fractions (representative of different toxicities) for 1-32 days in aquatic model ecosystems. Only slight differences were observed between the three fractions and unfractionated toxaphene in total amounts accumulated by each species. Bioaccumulation potential for bluegill fish was much higher than for snails (average of 6000 vs. 480 times water content, respectively). Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of fish and snail extracts taken after 3, 15, and 32 days of exposure indicated considerable metabolism by snails of all compounds but little metabolism by fish. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.