ABSTRACT

The occurrence and level of contamination by butyltin compounds, tributyltin (TBT) and its degradation products, monobutyltin (MBT) and dibutyltin (DBT), in seawter, sediment, and biosamples collected from the south coast of Korea have been determined. To minimize any matrix effect both sediement and biosamples were homogenized and extracted with tropolone-benzene, after acidification. The butyltins concentrated in the organic layer, were derivatized with PeMgBr (C5H11MgBr) and analyzed by GC/QFAAS (Gas Chromatography / Quartz Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy). Analysis of the samples collected in April, June and December of 1994, confirmed the occurrence of butyltin comounds in the aquatic environments of two bays and one harboe in seawater and biosamples on the sound caost of Korea/the main species were DBT and MBT in seawater and biosamples, DBT and TBT predominated in the sediments. TBT, the most toxic to aquatic life of the butyltin species, was found at concentrations which sufficient to retard growth of sensitive aquatic organisms upon chronic exposure. The TBT concentrations ranged from below detection limit to 22.5ng Sn/L in seawater, and μg Sn/Kg·dry wt. level in sediment and biosamples. The highest concentration of TBT was found to be 56.6 μg Sn/Kg·dry wt. in the sediment near whart facilities in Kwangyang Bay. Partitioning of TBT between seawater and sediment, showed a highly increased ratio of TBTsed./TBTsw in June compared to April and December.

INTRODUCTION

Organotin compounds are used for various industrial applications such as biocides, thermal stabilizers for PVC, and catalysts in the production of polyurethane foams. In biocides, triorganotin compounds (R3Sn+) having the highest biological activity are more common than of nontoxic di- or mono-organotin compounds (Craig, 1986). Because of the acute toxicity of tributyltin, it is used as an antifouling additive in paints to prevent the attachment of barnacles and sea grasses to ship's hulls.

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