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Surfactant bioconcentration--a critical review
J Tolls1, P Kloepper-Sams, D T Sijm
1Research Institute of Toxicology, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Chemosphere
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Bioconcentration data for surfactants reveal that most studies overestimate uptake due to analytical limitations. Selected data indicate uptake increases with alkyl chain length, with environmental factors influencing ionic surfactants.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Toxicology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bioconcentration of surfactants is a key environmental concern.
- Existing data often lack the precision to accurately assess surfactant uptake.
- Analytical methods frequently fail to distinguish parent compounds from metabolites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review and select reliable bioconcentration data for surfactants.
- To establish a criterion for data comparability.
- To analyze factors influencing surfactant bioconcentration.
Main Methods:
- Collection and critical review of 22 references reporting bioconcentration data.
- Application of a defined comparability criterion to select 54 relevant concentration ratios (CRs).
- Analysis of trends in CRs based on surfactant class, alkyl chain length, and uptake routes.
Main Results:
- Selected CRs ranged from 2.4 to 1960, generally increasing with alkyl chain length.
- All surfactant classes showed uptake via gills; some exhibited slow uptake.
- Nonionic and anionic surfactants underwent biotransformation, with biliary excretion being significant.
- Environmental variables impacted ionic surfactant bioconcentration.
Conclusions:
- Most prior bioconcentration data for surfactants are unreliable due to analytical limitations.
- Surfactant uptake is influenced by chemical structure (alkyl chain length) and uptake route.
- Biotransformation and excretion pathways exist, and environmental factors play a role in the bioaccumulation of ionic surfactants.