The in vitro metabolism by homogenates of goldfish (Carassius auratus) liver of pentachloro-2-(chloromethyl sulphonamido) diphenyl ether, the major component and active ingredient of the mothproofing agent Eulan WA New.

After dosing goldfish (Carassius auratus) for 2 hr with pentachloro-2-(chloromethyl sulphonamido) diphenyl ether, 6-PCSD, (the major component of the active ingredients of the mothproofing agent Eulan WA New) in the surrounding water, high concentrations of the corresponding amine pentachloro-2-aminodiphenyl ether, 5-PAD, were found in the liver. This suggests that the liver is a primary site of 5-PAD formation in vivo. Homogenates of goldfish liver showed a 5-PAD forming activity when incubated with 6-PCSD; this activity was destroyed by boiling the homogenate or by treatment with trypsin. The activity was greater at pH 7.4 than at pH 3, 5 or 9. There was no detectable corresponding activity in homogenates of goldfish spleen or digestive tissue or in the digestive tract contents.