Plasticizers in the environment: the fate of di-N-octyl phthalate (DOP) in two model ecosystems and uptake and metabolism of DOP by aquatic organisms.

The fate of the plasticizer, di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP) has been examined in 33-day terrestrial-aquatic and three-day aquatic model ecosystems. The five organisms of the two systems contained residues of DOP, demonstrating the propensity of this lipoid soluble organic molecule to be concentrated from the water. The residues in the organisms in the three-day system were higher than in the 33-day system with the exception of the fish, indicating perhaps, that DOP can undergo some degradation before the fish is placed in the system on the 30th day. A half-life of five days for DOP disappearance from the water was calculated from water samples taken periodically. Further, effects of mixed function oxidase and esterase inhibitors were investigated on the metabolism of DOP by various selected organisms and tissues of the two ecosystems.