A kerosen-like taint in the sea mullet Mugil cephalus (Linneaus). II. Some aspects of the deposition and metabolism of hydrocarbons in muscle tissue.

The results obtained indicate that the deposition of absorbed hydrocarbons in different segments of the muscle tissue of the sea mullet is proportional to the lipid content of the segment. However the results give no clear indication as to whether the total lipid content of the muscle tissue of individual fish influences the uptake of hydrocarbons from the environment. Evidence has been presented for different rates of metabolism of the n-alkanes as compared to the iso-alkanes and related compounds. Metabolic processes in the sea mullet result in the preferential degradation of the n-alkanes leaving a hydrocarbon mixture in the sea mullet enriched with iso-alkanes and related compounds.