No abstract

Tributyltin (TBT) concentrations have been measured in the tissue of the Sydney rock oyster Saccostrea commercialis sampled from estuaries in New South Wales, Australia. Background TBT levels of below 2 ng Sn g-1 contrasted with values between 80 and 130 ng Sn g-1 in oysters exposed to high boat densities or poor tidal flushing. Shell deformities and reduced tissue weights were associated with all samples displaying elevated TBT levels. Specimens of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, growing on the same racks displayed 2-3 times the TBT concentrations of S. commercialis.

No abstract

Water from 23 sites in Sydney Harbour and the Georges River estuary (N.S.W.) have been analysed for tributyltin (TBT) using gas chromatography with electron capture detection, after solvent extraction as the hydride. Analytical data for TBT in Sydney waters are consistent with other data reported for overseas estuaries, with the majority of samples containing less than 45 ng Sn L-1 as TBT. Samples from areas of high boating activity such as Rushcutters Bay and Garden Island gave the highest TBT concentrations at 90-190 ng Sn L-1. The mean ambient TBT concentration in each estuary was computed using a tidal prism model. Despite the broad assumptions made, calculated results agreed well with those measured at sites with no obvious local point source of TBT.