Bajot, F.; Cronin, M. Polar narcosis QSAR for fathead minnow acute toxicity. Q17-33-0032. Liverpool John Moores University, 2009.

All compounds are considered to act by polar narcosis. This is well established for non-reactive compounds. Acute lethality is brought about by accumulation in cellular membranes causing their disruption and ultimately death of the organism. The ability of the compound to accumulate in a cellular membrane is thought to be related to its intrinsic hydrophobicity. ...