Phenol

Bioaccumulation: aquatic / sediment

Description of key information

Ten reports on bioaccumulation of phenol in 6 fish species are available. Nine studies are based on measured values, however, only 5 studies are regarded reliable. One study calculated the BCF using an equation derived from studies with 30 chemicals and Pimephales promelas (Veith et al. 1979). This equation is also given in the Technical Guidance Document. Only the study of Butte et al. (1985) was conducted according to OECD guideline 305E under flow-through conditions using Danio rerio. The BCF was calculated from kinetic parameters (accumulation-/clearance phase). The BCF for total fish was calculated to be 17.5.  The depuration half-life (DT50) was calculated to be 0.83 hours and the DT90 was 2.75 hours.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

BCF (aquatic species):

17.5 dimensionless

Additional information

Data on bioaccumulation of phenol in fish is presented in the EU-RAR (2006) in Section 3.1.2.1.3 (page 16ff).

It is stated that the cited studies show that uptake and metabolism of phenol in fish take place very fast. Binding of polar conjugates and metabolites to plasma proteins is possible. This fact may explain why in studies using14C-measurement only a slow depuration is observed.

 

Ten reports on bioaccumulation of phenol in 6 fish species are available. Nine studies are based on measured values, however, only 5 studies are regarded reliable. One study calculated the BCF using an equation derived from studies with 30 chemicals and Pimephales promelas (Veith et al., 1979). This equation is also given in the Technical Guidance Document. Only the study of Butte et al. (1985) was conducted according to OECD guideline 305E under flow-through conditions using Danio rerio exposed to 1 concentration of 2 mg/L. The BCF was calculated from the kinetic of the accumulation and clearance phase. The BCF for total fish was calculated to be 17.5. The depuration half-life (DT50) was calculated to be 0.83 hours and the DT90 was 2.75 hours.

The steady state of uptake was reached between 2 and 5 hours, though only two successive analyses of the concentration in fish were made (after 2 and 5 hours). The calculated uptake phase using the log Kow according to the current OECD 305 is 10 hours and the calculated depuration phase is also 10 hours. The uptake phase of 5 hours used in the study is regarded to be plausible and the study is regarded to be reliable.

Regarding the remaining uncertainties it should be considered, that for substances with a log Kow < 3 generally no potential for bioaccumulation is expected and no bioaccumulation studies are required.

 

As a conclusion from the available test results it can be stated that phenol has only a low bioaccumulation potential. This is also supported by the log Kow of 1.47. According to the equation of Veith et al. (1979) given in the TGD a BCFfish of 3.5 can be calculated from this value. For the further assessment the BCF of 17.5 found by Butte et al. (1985) is used.

 

Two reliable studies on bioaccumulation of phenol in green algae are also available with BCF values between 1.08 and 6.55 (max. BCF based on dry weight) confirming the low bioaccumulation potential of phenol.