Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

Elucidating the Metabolism of 2,4-Dibromophenol in Plants
Published on: February 10, 2023
Pharmacokinetic behavior of 4-nonylphenol in humans
S Müller1, P Schmid, C Schlatter
1Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and University of Zurich, Schorenstrasse 16, CH-8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
Abstract:
In this study, the pharmacokinetic behavior of 4-nonylphenol (NP) was investigated in human volunteers. In order to avoid analytical background problems, isotope labeled (13)C(6)-NP was synthesized. Both after intravenous and oral application, the elimination half-life of the parent compound from the blood was 2-3 h. Bioavailability after oral application (determined by oral and intravenous AUCs) was about 20%. NP seems to distribute into the lipid phase of the body within 2 h. Furthermore, levels of NP and 4-octylphenol (OP) in non-occupationally exposed persons were investigated by analyzing human autopsy adipose tissue samples. NP concentrations ranged from 19 to 85 ng/g lipids, OP concentrations from 0.58 to 4.07 ng/g lipids. These values were both in the range of the analytical background contamination. No NP and OP ethoxylates (ethoxylate number 1,2) were found in any of the samples (detection limit of 10 ng/g lipids for NP ethoxylates and 0.5 ng/g lipids for OP ethoxylates). On the basis of the pharmacokinetic data from this study, actual adipose tissue concentrations were estimated to lie a factor of 50 below analytical background values.
Related Concept Videos
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Bioavailability and Protein-Drug Binding
To quantify the extent of bioavailability, pharmacologists often use a parameter called .
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Overview
Nonlinearity can arise due to the saturation of plasma protein-binding or...
Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Relationship: Duration of Dose-Effect Relationship
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Causes of Nonlinearity
Nonlinear drug absorption can occur when the process is rate-limited by solubility, carrier-mediated transport systems, or saturation of the presystemic gut wall or hepatic metabolism. For instance, high doses of riboflavin...
