Assessment of elemental contamination in estuarine and coastal environments based on geochemical and statistical modeling of sediments

Sediment of variable mineralogical, textural and metal contaminant composition was collected from 38 estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States and analyzed for total Al, Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, Tl and Zn concentrations. Based on observed covariation of elements at 15 estuaries remote from contaminant inputs, linear regressions of metals on Al were used to model the metal content in baseline sediments. A geochemical model for the covariation was developed, verified and used to guide the statistical modelling approach. Comparison of metal concentrations predicted by the models with those occurring in uncontaminated geological materials suggests that baseline relationships are valid for the entire region sampled. Using these baseline relationships, sediment metal concentrations can be partitioned into natural and anthropogenic fractions. Models improve the comparability of metal levels in sediments by correcting for variable background concentrations that, if left uncorrected, only serve to increase total data variability and reduce detection of spatial and temporal differences.Examples of the application of baseline models to pollution studies are provided. A continuing decline in Pb concentrations in Mississippi River delta sediments is observed consistent with the declining use of Pb additives in gasoline since 1970. Major spatial trends in contaminant metals in sediments along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts are noted.     

Effects of tributyltin on salmon interrenal CYP11β, steroidogenic factor-1 and glucocorticoid receptor transcripts in the presence and absence of second messenger activator,forskolin

The mechanisms by which TBT produces modulations of the endocrine systems are not fully described. In this study, juvenile salmon were force-fed diet containing TBT (0: solvent control, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg fish) for 72 h. Subsequently, fish exposed to solvent control and 10 mg/kg TBT were exposed to waterborne concentration of the adenyl cyclase stimulator forskolin (200 μg/L) for 2 and 4 h. Tissue and blood were sampled from individual fish (n = 6). Gene expression patterns of CYP11β, steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), and glucocorticoid receptor (GlucR) were determined by qPCR. TBT generally decreased mRNA levels of CYP11β, GlucR and SF-1, compared to the solvent control and these effects were differentially modulated by the presence of forskolin. This study suggests that TBT may exert broader endocrine disrupting effects through possible modulation of cAMP/PKA second messenger systems.     

Evidence for exposure of fish to oil spilled into the Columbia river

On March 19, 1984, more than 170000 gallons of oil were spilled into the Columbia River. We had recently developed analytical methods for estimating the exposure of fish to aromatic compounds by measuring the concentrations of metabolites of these contaminants in fish bile. The oil spill provided an opportunity to field test our methods in assessing the exposure of fish to petroleum aromatic compounds from the spilled oil. Our findings indicated that, within 5 days after the spill, mean concentrations of metabolites of aromatic compounds in the bile of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) captured 57 miles downstream from the spill were significantly higher than those of sturgeon caught upriver.     

Historical contamination of PAHs, PCBs, DDTs, and heavy metals in Mississippi River Delta, Galveston Bay and Tampa Bay sediment cores

Profiles of trace contaminant concentrations in sediment columns can be a natural archive from which pollutant inputs into coastal areas can be reconstructed. Reconstruction of historical inputs of anthropogenic chemicals is important for improving management strategies and evaluating the success of recent pollution controls measures. Here we report a reconstruction of historical contamination into three coastal sites along the US Gulf Coast: Mississippi River Delta, Galveston Bay and Tampa Bay. Within the watersheds of these areas are extensive agricultural lands as well as more than 50% of the chemical and refinery capacity of the USA. Despite this pollution potential, relatively low concentrations of trace metals and trace organic contaminants were found in one core from each of the three sites. Concentrations and fluxes of most trace metals found in surface sediments at these three sites, when normalized to Al, are typical for uncontaminated Gulf Coast sediments. Hydrophobic trace organic contaminants that are anthropogenic (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, DDTs, and polychlorinated biphenyls) are found in sediments from all locations. The presence in surface sediments from the Mississippi River Delta of low level trace contaminants such as DDTs, which were banned in the early 1970's, indicate that they are still washed out from cultivated soils. It appears that the DDTs profile in that sediment core was produced by a combination of erosion processes of riverine and other sedimentary deposits during floods. Most of the pollutant profiles indicate that present-day conditions have improved from the more contaminated conditions in the 1950-1970's, before the advent of the Clean Water Act.     

中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)脑垂体的形态和ACTH细胞定位

为研究中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)神经内分泌系统的基本结构和功能,本文对中华鲟脑垂体的组织形态进行了观察,结果表明中华鲟的神经垂体较小,腺垂体可分为前、中和后腺垂体三部分,神经垂体形成分支插入后腺垂体。中华鲟垂体还有一个特点是有分支的垂体裂。前腺垂体位于垂体前侧,细胞间隙大,细胞分散呈窦状。中腺垂体细胞间隙小,细胞密集呈条索状,嗜酸性细胞和嗜碱性细胞区分明显。后腺垂体包围在神经垂体周围。腺垂体中有长且分支的垂体裂,腺垂体形成许多突起深入其中,垂体裂周围的细胞密集,染色深,排列成类似上皮组织的形态。免疫组化结果表明,中华鲟脑垂体ACTH细胞主要分布于后腺垂体。ACTH的前体基因是POMC,RT-PCR证明其主要分布在脑垂体中,在体内其他组织中基本检测不到。编码ATCH的片段位于POMC中最保守的区域。预测发现POMC基因有一个26氨基酸的信号肽,将不带信号肽的POMC基因插入表达载体。再转染HELA细胞POMC主要在细胞质中表达,而带有信号肽的POMC蛋白在细胞内很少,推测可能分泌到胞外,信号肽对POMC表达和功能发挥起重要作用,本研究结果可为该基因在中华鲟神经内分泌研究中提供参考。     

Factors that influence the accumulation of copper and cadmium by transplanted eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in the Patuxent River, Maryland

To investigate the continued accumulation of copper and cadmium by oysters in the Patuxent River, MD, which have been at high levels since at least the mid 1960s, hatchery-raised Eastern oysters were transplanted into trays at four sites in the upper estuary. At each site two groups of oysters were used to determine growth and mortality, and another group was sampled for meat condition, metal concentration and body burden. Copper in oysters in the discharge of a coal-fired power plant was significantly greater than at all other sites, but maximum concentration of 310 micrograms g-1 was well below the maximum of 1880 micrograms g-1 detected in 1982. Cadmium levels were also significantly greater in the discharge than at the other sites, but probably because of higher discharge temperatures. Trace metal loadings, the local salinity gradient and the higher temperatures caused by power plant operation all appear to contribute to metal accumulation by oysters in the upper Patuxent estuary.     

Histopathological changes in the liver of dab (Limanda limanda) from a contamination gradient in the North sea

As part of a joint workshop organised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) on biological effects monitoring techniques. dad (Limanda limanda) were examined from six spaced stations along a 200 km transect extending from near the mouth of the Elbe River out to the Dogger Bank in the North Sea. Based on historical data, differences in contaminant concentrations in sediments exist along the transect (lipophilic organic xenobiotics at the inshore sites and heavy metals offshore over the Dogger Bank). The most contaminated site sampled was the most inshore, the least contaminated was approximately midway along the transect, with contamination building up again over the farthest point along the transect, over the Dogger Bank. Multiple organs and tissues were examined for full pathology from each fish sampled. Only liver data are presented here (11–20 livers per station). The most significant lesions were considered to be well-developed foci of cellular alteration, high mitotic activity and high neutral lipid accumulation in livers from dab sampled from the most inshore site examined. Livers from the least-contaminated station showed minimal evidence of such changes. Foci of cellular alteration and neutral lipid accumulation were also seen in dab liver sampled from fish from the Dogger Bank site. Thus far, the hepatic changes seen correlate well with the most contaminated sites along the transect. The value of comprehensively examining the histopathology of an organ of toxicological significance, such as the liver in a European species of flatfish, is demonstrated.     

Temporal changes in AHH and SOD activities in feral spot from the Elizabeth River,a polluted sub-estuary

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured in young-of-the-year feral fish collected between June and October 1985 from three stations in the highly polluted Elizabeth River and from one reference station in the relatively unpolluted Ware River. AHH activity increased to a peak in July and September, and then declined in October whereas SOD activity increased throughout the study period. Both AHH and SOD activities were higher in fish from the Elizabeth River stations than those from the Ware River.Fish condition factor was measured for all fishes. These values were lower than the values found in the literature for a site located in South Carolina, but did not differ among the four stations sampled in the present study.     

Microsomal estrogen metabolism in channel catfish

Our goal was to study the involvement of cytochrome P450 genes in estrogen metabolism and the extent to which the potentially carcinogenic 4-hydroxyestradiol metabolite is formed by channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus; CC). Estradiol metabolism and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity were assessed in several tissues from fish collected from three variably contaminated sites in the Mississippi River Delta, from laboratory control fish, and from fish exposed to 20 mg/kg benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) i.p. for 4 days. Liver EROD activity was induced by BaP, but Delta fish EROD activities were not statistically higher than activities in control fish. Gill microsomal EROD activity was also induced by BaP, but activities were 8- to 77-fold lower than those from liver. The predominant estrogen metabolites formed by CC liver, gill and gonad microsomes were 2-hydroxyestradiol and estrone as detected by GC/MS. Liver and gill 2-hydroxyestradiol formation was induced in BaP-dosed fish. The trends in hydroxyestradiol formation in field collected fish were more variable. In all fish liver microsomes there was more 2- compared to 4-hydroxyestradiol formed. However, BaP-treatment increased the 4:2 hydroxyestradiol ratio from 0.04 in control fish to 0.2 in BaP-exposed fish, suggesting that BaP induces the formation of the potentially genotoxic estrogen metabolite. No detectable 4-hydroxyestradiol was produced by gill and gonad microsomes. These results will ultimately help in determining which fish P450 genes are susceptible to environmental contamination and may be involved in estrogen genotoxicity.     

Region-wide impairment of Atlantic croaker testicular development and sperm production in the northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic dead zone

Recently evidence has been obtained for reproductive impairment in estuarine populations of Atlantic croaker exposed to seasonal hypoxia. However, it is not known whether a similar disruption of reproductive function occurs in croaker inhabiting a much larger hypoxic area, the extensive dead zone in coastal regions of the northern Gulf of Mexico extending from the Mississippi Delta to East Texas. Gonadal development in male Atlantic croaker collected in September 2008 at six sites in the dead zone was compared to that in male fish sampled from three reference sites east of the Mississippi Delta which do not experience persistent hypoxia. Croaker testes collected from the dead zone were at an earlier stage of spermatogenesis than those from the reference sites. Histological examination of the testes collected from the dead zone showed that their tubules had small lumens that contained very little sperm compared to the lumens of the reference fish. Overall, sperm production was 26.2% that of the control fish at the reference sites. This decrease in spermatogenesis at the dead zone sites was accompanied by an approximately 50% decrease in testicular growth compared to that in the reference fish. The results suggest that reproductive impairment can occur over regional scales in marine fish populations exposed to extensive seasonal hypoxia in dead zones with potential long-term impacts on population abundance.     

Species composition, distribution, and invertebrate prey of fish assemblages in the Columbia River Estuary

The fish community of the Columbia River Estuary was sampled with trawl, beach seine, and purse seine over an 18 month period during 1980–1981. Seasonality of abundance and species richness in the estuary reflect the timing of migrations and the reproductive cycles of marine and anadromous species. Composition of the fish community and dominant species in the Columbia River estuary are similar to many smaller estuaries in the Pacific Northwest. These similarities reflect the influence of the nearshore marine environment on fish community structure throughout the West Coast as well as the wide geographic distribution and considerable physiological tolerance of many dominant euryhaline species. The distribution of fish assemblages within the Columbia River estuary is influenced by large seasonal variation in river discharge and salinity. Within large areas or salinity zones, species assemblages use different habitats and invertebrate prey. The distribution of abundance and the stomach fullness of fishes vary directly with the density of potential prey. We hypothesize that fish production may be limited by dynamic physical processes that control prey availability or the feeding efficiencies of predators in the highly turbid estuary.     

Metazoan meiofauna abundance in relation to environmental variables in the northern Gulf of Mexico deep sea

In order to more fully understand the distribution of meiofauna and how they respond to topographic, geochemical and physical forcing in the northern Gulf of Mexico, meiofauna abundance and environmental variables were analyzed in a hypothesis-based univariate and multivariate design. Meiofauna abundance was significantly related to water depth, but also exhibited significant longitudinal differences resulting from proximity to Mississippi River outflow. Canyon features in proximity of Mississippi River outflow were found to greatly enhance meiofauna abundance. The Florida Escarpment interacts with Mississippi River outflow and the Loop Current to enhance meiofauna abundance at stations lying directly above and below the escarpment. Multivariate comparisons of meiofauna abundance with environmental variables revealed a strong Mississippi River influence. River outflow alters local sediment characteristics, and interacts with loop current eddies and dynamic slope topography to increase particulate organic matter flux in the northeastern region, thus creating areas of higher than normal meiofauna abundance.     

Pathology of the liver, kidney and gonad of flounder (Platichthys flesus) from a UK estuary impacted by endocrine disrupting chemicals.

The Mersey estuary is highly contaminated with xenobiotics compared to the nearby Dee estuary. Male flounder, a migratory flatfish caught in the Mersey frequently contains high blood concentrations of the oestrogen controlled, female protein vitellogenin, suggesting that Mersey flounder have been exposed to endocrine disrupting contaminants. Males caught from the Dee contain lower blood vitellogenin levels. Preliminary histopathological examination of 410 flounder from both estuaries, focuses on the liver, kidney and gonads. Hepatic tubular vacuolation, foci of cellular alteration, and hepatocellular tumours were seen. Renal and gonadal pathology included the presence of two Mersey fish with enlarged and abnormal glomeruli, three phenotypic male Mersey flounder with unilateral intersex gonads and one male with bilateral, abnormal ovarian follicular components in the testis. These initial results provide pathological evidence of xenobiotic exposure in flounder sampled from both estuaries. Preliminary findings from flounder sampled from Millport, an offshore site in Southwest Scotland, showed no histopathological evidence of xenobiotic exposure.     

Estuarine refugia and fish responses to a large anoxic,hydrogen sulphide, “black tide” event in the adjacent marine environment

The fish fauna of the Berg River Estuary was sampled from the mouth to 40 km upstream using a small-meshed seine-net before (summer 1993), during (summer 1994) and after (summer 1996) a low-oxygen, hydrogen sulphide “black tide” event that caused a mass mortality of fish in St Helena Bay. These data were compared to determine how the species composition, abundance and distribution of the fish fauna of the Berg River Estuary differed before, during and after the event as well as to ascertain which species, if any, found refuge in the estuary. The overall catch-per-unit-effort of 1637 fish.haul⁻¹ during the event was almost double the 932 fish.haul⁻¹ and 643 fish.haul⁻¹ in the years before and after respectively. All the fish recorded alive in the estuary during the event were species known to have some degree of estuarine association. No representatives of the purely marine species found dead on the adjacent shoreline were recorded live in the estuary during the event. Of the 10 estuarine-associated species sampled, 5 extended their range and/or modal peaks of abundance further upstream during the event. One species, Liza richardsonii, was abundant enough to examine its size distribution in different breaches of the estuary. Large/adult fish were concentrated further upstream than small/juvenile fish, which appeared to be unable to escape tidal currents and were concentrated at the edge of the low-oxygen front. Collectively this circumstantial evidence indicates that (1) fish used the Berg Estuary as a refuge from low-oxygen conditions in the marine environment during the “black tide” event, and (2) the ability to secure refuge in the estuary was restricted to species described as “estuarine-associated” or “estuarine-dependent”.     

长江口区鱼类群聚结构、丰盛度及其季节变化的研究

长江是世界第三大河,长江三角洲素有金三角之称,在我国国民经济中处于举足轻重的地位。长江口区内接长江,外连东海,是一个相对独立的半咸水体系。长江径流、台湾暖流和黄海水在此交汇、混合,加上气候变化、潮汐涨落、波浪运动,使其理化条件瞬息万变,给生物提供了一个混合、过渡与复杂多变的非生物环境,它与生物群落构成了一个结构复杂、形态多变、功能独特的河口区生态系统。充满生机的生物群落因环境条件的变化而在一定的范围内不断地改变其数量、大小、组成、结构和形态,整个生态系統处于一种动态平衡状态。鱼类在河口生态系统中占据着极重要的位置,在复杂的食物网中处于较高的营养层次,是主要的消费者。长江口区生物生产力高,饵料丰富,栖息着种类繁多、数量丰盛的鱼类,不仅是重要的河口渔场,而且是多种鱼类觅食、繁殖,幼体育肥、庇护的场所,又是数种洄游鱼类进出的通道,因此对鱼类资源的补充及对邻近水域其他渔场(舟山、吕四等渔场)的形成具有特殊意义。 河口是长江的终端,是整个长江流域大系统的一个重要子系统。长江流域大规模开发建设所引起的一系列变化都可能会影响到河口及近海水域,影响河口区生态系统的结构与功能,这种影响可以在鱼类群聚的数量和结构上很快地反应出来;同时,河口区生态环境的变化也会向内、向外影响长江和近海。因此研究长江口鱼类群聚的数量、结构特点及变化规律,将为长江口生态系统的进一步研究,为该水域的环境评价,监测和预估,为鱼类资源的管理等提供基本资料,具有重要的理论和实践意义。 对河口鱼类群聚的研究,近年来受到国内外学者的极大重视,它已成为河口生态系统研究的重要组成部分。近十几年来特别注重应用于生态环境的评价和监测( Hillman et al.,1977; McErlean et al.,1973)。我国对河口鱼类群聚的研究起步较晚,但正日益受到重视。费鸿年等(1981)和杨纪明等曾分别对珠江口及邻近水域和黄河口的鱼类群聚特性进行了研究。王幼槐(1984)、李星颉(1985)、郁尧山(1986)、赵利华和张国祥(1985)等对长江口及邻近水域的鱼类群聚进行过研究。本文对长江口区最主要、最敏感的部分——半咸水区的鱼类群聚的数量、组成、结构特点及其季节变化规律作了较详尽的描述和探讨,力求反映长江河口区鱼类的基本特征和概貌,提供进一步研究的本底资料。     

Trace metal concentrations in menhaden larvae Brevoortia patronus from the northern Gulf of Mexico

Whole body concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe were measured in individual gulf menhaden larvae, Brevoortia patronus (11–18 mm standard length) from coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico as part of a continuing project investigating the mechanisms of biological interaction and effect of trace metals in marine food webs. Larvae were collected at three different times between February 1981 and 1982 at two locations, offshore of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River and offshore of Galveston, Texas.Fish at the Mississippi location had significantly (P≤0·05) greater concentrations of all metals compared with those from the Galveston location. No significant (P>0·05) differences in concentration were detected among the three sampling periods. Menhaden larvae had metal conentrations comparabe to other species of larval fish and zooplankton from the Gulf of Mexico and other coastal waters. Differences in metal concentrations in larvae from the two locations appear to be a subtle response of the fish to differences in the trace metal chemistries of the two coastal areas. Processes influencing metal concentrations are discussed.     

拉萨河源头水域中浮游生物、鱼类资源调查与分析

拉萨河是西藏重要的河流之一,流经多个县市,拉萨河的生态性调查和环境保护对西藏的社会和经济发展重要意义。本调查在拉萨河上游11个乡镇分别进行断面取点调查,对各乡镇境内拉萨河段进行浮游生物与鱼类取样统计分析。本次调查中,共检出浮游植物76个种类,其中硅藻门48种,占总种类数的63.2%;绿藻门12种,占总种类数的15.8%;蓝藻门6种,占总种类数的7.9%;金藻门4种,占总种类数的5.3%;隐藻门3种,占总种类数的3.9%;黄藻门和裸藻门各1种,分别占总种类数的1.3%;共检出浮游动物4大类50种,其中原生动物24种,占总种数的48%;轮虫12种,占总种数的24%;枝角类10种,占总种数的20%;桡足类4种,占总种数的8%;共发现1目2科5属的鱼类5种,均为鲤形目,本地鱼类有3种,占总数的60%,外来种有2种,占到总数的40%,其中拉萨裸裂尻鱼(Schizopygopsis younghusbandi Regan)和双须叶须鱼[Ptychobarbus dipogon(Regan)]为雅鲁藏布江特有鱼类。本次调查采集到的外来鱼种有棒花鱼和鳅鱼两种。经本次调查,西藏拉萨河源头流域,生物多样性略贫乏,尤其是鱼类种类较少。而鱼类保护工作面临的两大挑战就是外来鱼种入侵以及过度捕捞而造成的鱼类资源减少。     

Histopathology of mussels (Mytilus sp.) from the Tamar estuary, UK

This study assessed numerous histological parameters as markers of health status in mussels (Mytilus spp.) collected from several locations along a contamination gradient on the River Tamar and two coastal sites on the north and south coast of Cornwall, UK. Twenty-seven health parameters were assessed including the presence of pathogens, inflammatory lesions, non-specific pathologies and reproductive condition. Logistic regression showed that reproductive condition and inflammatory lesions showed changes indicative of a contamination gradient response. Mussel populations further upstream within the Tamar were relatively less developed compared to mussels situated downstream in the estuary. Compared to coastal locations, mussels sampled within the Tamar also exhibited a higher prevalence of inflammatory lesions that increased at locations situated furthest upstream. Similarly, levels of lipofuscin within the kidney epithelium were highest in mussels sampled within the estuary and Whitsand Bay compared to Trebarwith Strand. The most prevalent pathogens observed during this survey included Rickettsia/Chlamydia-like organisms (R/CLO), gill ciliates including Ancistrum mytili, the copepod Mytilicola intestinalis, Ciliophora-like organisms and Marteilia sp. Marteilia sp. was observed in 31% of the mussels sampled from the Cremyll Ferry site. Generally, the range and prevalence of pathogens was highest from the two estuarine locations at Cremyll Ferry and Wilcove. No significant differences were observed between estuarine sampling sites and Whitsand Bay with respect to median epithelial cell height of digestive tubules, however mussels from Trebarwith Strand did exhibit a reduced median epithelial cell height compared to mussels sampled from other sampling sites. Species genotyping was also undertaken during this study in order to consider any histological differences in relation to species. Results are discussed in relation to histopathology health parameters and biological effects monitoring.     

Organochlorine residues in common terns and associated estuarine organisms,Massachusetts, USA, 1971–81

Organochlorine residues were measured in eggs of common terns Sterna hirundo at nine stations and in Atlantic silversides Menidia menidia at 11 stations in coastal Massachusetts, 1973–74. Tern eggs were sampled at one station from 1971 to 1981 and at another from 1973 to 1978. Mussels Mytilus edulis and various fish were sampled in 1975–76. PCBs were the predominant residues in all samples. DDE, TDE, DDT and HEOD were detected in most samples of fish. HE, Alpha-chlordane, oxychlordane and HCB were also detected in most samples of tern eggs. Concentrations of DDE, TDE and PCBs in tern eggs were highly correlated with those in fish at the same stations. Concentrations of PCBs in tern lipids were about 10 times those in the lipids of their prey. Except for HCB, concentrations of organochlorines were highest in urban areas (Boston Harbor and Buzzards Bay) and lowest in remote areas (outer Cape Cod). In Buzzards Bay, levels of DDE, HEOD, HCB and PCBs declined significantly between 1971 and 1981. However, on outer Cape Cod, only PCBs clearly declined after 1973, and by 1976 most of the urban-rural differences in levels of other organochlorines had disappeared. The geographical patterns in pesticide residue levels were associated both with urban uses and with specific agricultural uses. The highest levels of PCBs were associated with industrial effluents at New Bedford and Boston. Hatching failure in common terns was associated with elevated residues of DDE in one sample, but population effects of DDE were only marginal after 1971.     

Bioconcentration and distribution of 4-tert-octylphenol residues in tissues of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Branched chain alkylphenols are weak oestrogen mimics which are present in the aquatic environment and have been implicated in the feminisation of fish. This study reports the biotransformation, bioconcentration and tissue distribution of the xenoestrogen 4-tert-octylphenol (t-OP) in juvenile rainbow trout. Fish were exposed for 10 days to a concentration of 4 micrograms/l of [14C] t-OP in a flow-through system and were sampled after 1, 4, 7 and 10 days of exposure. t-OP residues were extracted from all tissues and analysed by radio-high-performance liquid chromatography. After 1 day of exposure radioactive residues were detected in all tissues and reached steady state conditions in the whole fish after 4 days of exposure. The concentration of t-OP residues were highest in bile, followed by faeces, pyloric caeca, liver and intestine. In these tissues the majority of alkylphenol was in the form of two metabolites which were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy as the glucuronide conjugates of t-OP and t-octylcatechol. t-OP accumulated as the parent compound in fat with a bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 1190, and in brain, muscle, skin, bone, gills, and eye with BCFs of between 100 and 260. This study suggests that exposure to water-borne alkylphenols results in rapid conjugation and elimination of the chemical via the liver/bile route, but that high amounts of the parent xenoestrogen can accumulate in a variety of other fish tissues.