| Abstract: | The bioconcentration factors (BCF) for 15 pesticides by a freshwater fish (topmouth gudgeon) were measured under continuous flow conditions in water containing 5 to 20 μg litre?1 of each pesticide at the equilibrium condition. A significant correlation was found between the BCF by the fish and the water solubility of the pesticide or its partition coefficient (PC) between octan-1-01 and water. Moreover, a significant correlation was also found between the BCF by topmouth gudgeon and the acute toxicities to carp, rainbow trout and water flea. It would therefore appear that the bioconcentration potential of a pesticide by a fish may be predicted from knowledge of its solubility or PC, and that the acute toxicity of a pesticide to a fish may be predicted from knowledge of the BCF. |
