Accumulation of polar compounds in leaves and fruits – questioning the suitability of widely used TSCF–log Kow regressions
Document Type
Presentation
Journal/Book Title/Conference
27th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Location
Montreal, QU
Publication Date
11-5-2006
Abstract
Although the specific mechanisms are not completely understood, plant uptake of most xenobiotic organic compounds is believed to be a passive process related at least in part to the lipophilicity of the compound. The transpiration stream concentration factor (TSCF), a ratio of xylem to root-zone solution concentrations, is one of the most widely used descriptors in plant uptake modeling. Unfortunately, experimentally determined TSCF values are extremely limited and TSCF used in modeling efforts are often estimated from empirically derived bell-shaped curves that relate TSCF to the log octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow). The shape of the curve implies that there is an optimal
lipophilicity for uptake and translocation and compounds that are highly polar are not expected to be significantly translocated.However, recent experimental
uptake data generated for highly water-soluble and water miscible compounds
(e.g.. sulfolane, 1,4- dioxane, MTBE) suggest that this relationship may not be appropriate. An alternative TSCF-log Kow relationship in combination with a refined model for predicting uptake and accumulation in edible fruits.
Recommended Citation
Doucette,W.J., Dettenmaier, EM., Trapp, S. 2006. Accumulation of polar compounds in leaves and fruits – questioning the suitability of widely used TSCF–log Kow regressions. Presented in a platform session at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Montreal, QU. November 5-9.
