A database of fish biotransformation rates for organic chemicals

Abstract

Biotransformation is a key process that can mitigate the bioaccumulation potential of organic substances and is an important parameter for exposure assessments. A recently published method for estimating whole‐body in vivo metabolic biotransformation rate constants (k_M) is applied to a database of measured laboratory bioconcentration factors and total elimination rate constants for fish. The method uses a kinetic mass balance model to estimate rates of chemical uptake and elimination when measured values are not reported. More than 5,400 measurements for more than 1,000 organic chemicals were critically reviewed to compile a database of 1,535 k_M estimates for 702 organic chemicals. Biotransformation rates range over six orders of magnitude across a diverse domain of chemical classes and structures. Screening‐level uncertainty analyses provide guidance for the selection and interpretation of k_M values. In general, variation in k_M estimates from different routes of exposure (water vs diet) and between fish species is approximately equal to the calculation uncertainty in k_M values. Examples are presented of structure–biotransformation relationships. Biotransformation rate estimates in the database are compared with estimates of biodegradation rates from existing quantitative structure–activity relationship models. Modest correlations are found, suggesting some consistency in biotransformation capabilities between fish and microorganisms. Additional analyses to further explore possible quantitative structure–biotransformation relationships for estimating k_M from chemical structure are encouraged, and recommendations for improving the database are provided.