Bioconcentration of Pirimiphos-methyl in Killifish (Oryzias latipes)

Killifish (Oryzias latipes) were exposed to an organophosphate pesticide, pirimiphos-methyl, in a flow-through system to determine the bioconcentration factor (BCF) following GLP (Good Laboratory Practice). This study was conducted at two different concentrations (1 and $10\;{\mu}$g/L) of $^{14}C$-labeled pirimiphos-methyl for 28 days uptake and 14 days depuration according to the OECD 305 test guideline. The $BCF_{ss}$ for total radioactive residues in whole fish were 1,251 and 1,277 for low and high concentrations, respectively. The $BCF_k$ based on the uptake and depuration rate constants were 1,200 for both low and high concentrations. During the depuration phase, the accumulated test substance was rapidly depurated from fish. Greater than 95% of the residue at steady-state was depurated after 2 days. Although the measured BCF values were high, pirimiphos-methyl could be evaluated as a low risk from bioaccumulation by aquatic organisms due to the short depuration period and low amount of bound residue (1.5%). We suggest that in evaluating bioaccumulation, not only the BCF should be considered, but also depuration time and bound residue in aquatic organisms give an indication of the potential environmental risks.