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Influence of Lipophilicity on the Toxicity of Bisphenol A and Phthalates to Aquatic Organisms

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Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are among the most popular plasticizers used today and have been reported ubiquitously in surface water, ground water, and sediment. For aquatic organisms, BPA was the most toxic (96 h LC50s) to aquatic invertebrates (0.96–2.70 mg/L) and less toxic to fish (6.8–17.9 mg/L). The toxicity of BPA to amphibians differed among developmental stages, with embryos having an LC50 of 4.6–6.8 mg/L and juveniles 0.50–1.4 mg/L. The toxicity of phthalates is affected by aromatic ring substitution, alkyl chain length, and metabolism. The toxicity (96 h LC50s) of phthalates was similar to aquatic invertebrates (0.46–377 mg/L) and fish (0.48–121 mg/L). In general, the toxicity of phthalates appears to be highest around a log KOW of 6, which corresponds to the highest potential for bioconcentration and bioaccumulation. In conclusion, the lipophilicity of BPA and phthalates influence their toxicity to aquatic species.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Science and Risk Assessment Directorate (2012–2014) of Environment and Climate Change Canada to SdS and VSL, and Canada Research Chair to VSL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department, Royal Military College of Canada, P.O. Box 17 000, Stn Forces, Kingston, ON, K7K 7B4, Canada

    Justine Mathieu-Denoncourt, Sarah J. Wallace & Valerie S. Langlois

  2. Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7R 4A6, Canada

    Shane R. de Solla

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  1. Justine Mathieu-Denoncourt
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  2. Sarah J. Wallace
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  3. Shane R. de Solla
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  4. Valerie S. Langlois
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Correspondence to Valerie S. Langlois.

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Mathieu-Denoncourt, J., Wallace, S.J., de Solla, S.R. et al. Influence of Lipophilicity on the Toxicity of Bisphenol A and Phthalates to Aquatic Organisms. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 97, 4–10 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1812-9

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