Bioaccumulation Kinetics and Bioconcentration Factor of Chlorinated Pesticides in Tissues of Puntius ticto (Ham.)

Abstract

Bioaccumulation kinetics and bioconcentration factor (BCF) of chlorinated pesticides like Aldrin, Dieldrin, Benzene hexachloride (BHC), and Dichloro-diphenyl-dichloro-ethane (DDT) in fish tissues of Puntius ticto was studied in detail in a continuous fed system. The bioconcentration process is summarized by using a first order uptake model and the steady-state BCF is calculated based on the 30 days exposure. Rate of bioaccumulation of DDT was maximum of 4.6432 µg g−1 wet weight per day in liver tissue whereas it was minimum of 0.0002 µg g−1 wet weight per day in case of Dieldrin in the muscle tissue among the pesticides. It was observed that DDT showed maximum BCF of 89,010 in case of liver tissue of the fish exposed to 30 days. The regression coefficient (r 2) between pesticide concentration and exposure time varied between 0.6212 and 0.9817 indicating high correlation. Based on actual calculated BCF values, the octanol–water partition coefficient (K ow) values were predicted. In order to prove the hydrophobic property of chlorinated compounds and its affinity towards lipid, the K ow is predicted. Results showed that pesticide burden differ from tissue to tissue and can be correlated to the lipid content, size, exposure time, and species.