The biotransformation of [14C]phenol in some freshwater fish.

1. The biotransformation of phenol was investigated in eight species of freshwater fish: bream (Abramis brama), goldfish (Carassius auratus), guppy (Poecilia reticulata), minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), perch (Perca fluviatilis), roach (Rutilus rutilus), rudd (Scardinius erythropthalmus) and tench (Tinca tinca), when exposed to sublethal concentrations of phenol in the aquarium water. 2. The two conjugates, phenyl sulphate and phenyl glucuronide, were the sole detected products produced by bream, perch, roach and rudd while phenyl sulphate alone was produced by goldfish, guppy, minnow and tench. 3. The immersion dosing method employed for the experiment is discussed with relation to the natural habitat of the fish.