Uptake and Elimination of Simazine by Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus Raf.)

Abstract

The uptake and release of 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine (simazine) by green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus Raf.) were measured during a 3-week exposure to either non-labeled or symmetrically ring-labeled 14C-simazine. Exposure was by feeding (3 and 10 mg/kg body wt) or bath (1 and 3 ppm). To determine the retention of simazine, treated fish remaining after exposure and sampling were placed in fresh water for 4 weeks. This water was changed weekly. Fish in the bath absorb simazine in amounts directly proportional to the concentration in the water: i.e., 0.95 and 2.29 ppm total residue after 3 weeks exposure to 1.0 and 3.0 ppm, respectively. Little or no simazine was found in feed-exposed fish 72 hr after feeding. Almost all of the residue was in the viscera. No simazine residue was detected in fish from the water bath exposure after they had been in fresh water 7 days.