Dynamics of trifluralin accumulation in river fishes

Fish downstream from the effluent discharge of a chemical plant, in Indiana, U.S.A. , have been shown to accumulate trifluralin in fat by direct uptake from water. The accumulation was reversible, and residue concentrations in the river fish declined rapidly following removal of trifluralin from the effluent by activated carbon filtration. The steady-state concentrations of trifluralin determined in the river fish agreed with values predicted by partition equilibrium models and laboratory exposures, showing that simple lipid-water partitioning can be used to predict bioconcentration of lipophilic substances discharged into receiving waters.