Schultz, T.W.; Holcombe, G.W.; Phipps, G.L. Relationships of quantitative structure-activity to comparative toxicity of selected phenols in the Pimephales promelas and Tetrahymena pyriformis test systems. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 1986, 12, 2, 146–153.

Abstract

The relative toxic response of 27 selected phenols in the 96-hr acute flowthrough Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow) and the 48- to 60-hr chronic static Tetrahymena pyriformis (ciliate protozoan) test systems was evaluated. Log Kow-dependent linear regression analyses revealed that the data from each test system consisted of two linear equations. The less toxic chemicals form a relationship which models polar narcosis; these chemicals are slightly more active than the baseline toxicity of nonionic narcotic chemicals. The more toxic chemicals form a relationship which models uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Regression analysis of fathead minnow toxicity (log LC50 (mol/liter] vs Tetrahymena toxicity (log BR (mmol/liter] showed good correlation between the two systems. An exception appears to be 4-nitrophenol, which is more active in the Tetrahymena system than in the fathead minnow and lies outside the 95% confidence interval. Reanalysis following deletion of 4-nitrophenol results in the equation log LC50 = -0.9192 (log BR) -3.5035; n = 26, r2 = 0.887.