Metabolism of [¹⁴C]acrolein (Magnacide H® herbicide): Nature and magnitude of residues in freshwater fish and shellfish

Abstract

Abstract-Acrolein, an aquatic herbicide, is applied as MAGNACIDE H herbicide directly into the water of irrigation canals at concentrations of 1 to 15 ppm. Two representative freshwater fish species, the bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) and the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and two representative freshwater shellfish species, a unionacean clam (Elliptio complanata) and the northern crayfish (Orconectes virilis), were exposed separately to two applications of [ 14 C]acrolein, with 7 d between the two dosings. The nominal water concentrations were 0.02 and 0.1 ppm acrolein for fish and shellfish, respectively. Exposures were terminated 1 d after the second application. Metabolites were identified from the edible tissues of each test species; there was very little similarity in the metabolism of acrolein between them. The most notable observation was that acrolein was never detected in any of the tissues sampled. Glycidol, glycerol, 1,3-propanediol, and glyceric acid were the major metabolites found in the catfish, crayfish, bluegill, and clams, respectively. This study demonstrated that these test species, when exposed under static conditions to [ 14 C]acrolein, are able to metabolize the parent compound and its residues in their edible tissues. The metabolism of [ 14 C]acrolein is so rapid in the edible tissues of these species that neither acrolein nor its major oxidative and reductive metabolites, acrylic acid and allyl alcohol, respectively, were detected.

Aldehydes and Acetals

“…The metabolic products in fish and shellfish are primarily alcohols and organic acids, such as glyceric acid, propanol, oxalic acid, and propionic acid (253). Because of its reactivity and the analytical difficulty of identifying it, acrolein metabolism in mammals is not well understood (253). Very little is known about the absorption and distribution of acrolein following exposure.…”

“…Further cellular metabolism leads to glycidol, glycerol, propionic acid, and propiolic acid; the terminal metabolites are oxalic acid and carbon dioxide (253). The metabolic products in fish and shellfish are primarily alcohols and organic acids, such as glyceric acid, propanol, oxalic acid, and propionic acid (253). Because of its reactivity and the analytical difficulty of identifying it, acrolein metabolism in mammals is not well understood (253).…”

“…Degradation of acrolein in natural water sediment and sterile water sediment conditions has indicated that microbial degradation plays a significant role in transforming acrolein in aquatic systems (253). Little information exists regarding the uptake …”

“…Acrolein in water can be reduced to allyl alcohol, oxidized to acrylic acid, or hydrolyzed and converted to 3-hydroxypropanal. Further cellular metabolism leads to glycidol, glycerol, propionic acid, and propiolic acid; the terminal metabolites are oxalic acid and carbon dioxide (253). The metabolic products in fish and shellfish are primarily alcohols and organic acids, such as glyceric acid, propanol, oxalic acid, and propionic acid (253).…”

Toxicology of the Herbicide Acrolein: Risk Assessment in Aquatic Environments

“…Acrolein was not detected in the tissues of fish (Lepomis macrochirus and Ictalurus punctatus) and shellfish (Elliptio complanata and Orconectes virilis) exposed separately to [ 14 C]-acrolein in water (0.02 and 0.1 mg/L for fish and shellfish, respectively), over a 1-week period, and sampled 1 day after a second exposure. The presence of metabolites indicated that these species were able to rapidly metabolize acrolein (Nordone et al, 1998). An estimated Bioconcentration Factor of 3.2 suggests that the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low ((HSDB, 2010).…”