Presystemic branchial metabolism limits di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate accumulation in fish

Despite the high lipophilicity of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), fish do not extensively accumulate this ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Experiments with rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) fitted with an indwelling cannula showed that the majority of [14C]DEHP did not reach the systemic circulation of the fish, but was present in the exposure water as metabolites. Pharmacokinetic analysis, using a compartmental model that included the gill as a separate metabolic compartment, indicated that DEHP was extensively metabolized as it diffused from water to blood. Isolated perfused gill arches of trout metabolized DEHP in the exposure bath to monoethylhexyl phthalate, demonstrating the ability of the gill to prevent DEHP entry into the fish. The relationship between metabolic clearance and tissue perfusion further suggests that metabolism in the gill can play an important role in determining the accumulation and toxicity of organic chemical pollutants in fish.