Uptake of 36Cl-toxaphene in mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis

The toxicity syndrome of toxaphene to G. affinis was divided into 5 stages, and the residue level at each stage was determined. By the time fish were exhibiting the first toxicity response (stage 2), 90.3% of the mean fatal residue level had been sorbed. Regression analysis indicated that sorption of toxaphene is a linear function with respect to time. Excretion was not observed following an 8 hour exposure to 2ppm toxaphene. Metabolic alteration of toxaphene during the experiments appeared to be minimal. Differences in individual mortality appeared to be due to differences in uptake rather than differences in ability to tolerate particular body loads of toxaphene.