Distribution of tributyltin in surface sediments from transitional marine-lagoon system of the south-eastern Baltic Sea, Lithuania

Abstract

The current research paper presents the results of contamination by tributyltin (TBT) compounds in Klaipėda Port, which is situated in a unique marine-lagoon water interaction zone. One hundred fifty-four surface sediment samples have been taken along the whole transition path from lagoon to the sea and analysed in order to quantify the contamination rate in specific environment of high anthropogenic pressure. The detected TBT concentrations ranged from 1 to 5,200 ng Sn g(-1) of dry weight of sediment. The back-trace of horizontal distribution of TBT-contaminated sediments show obvious increase of tributyltin concentrations closer to port areas dealing with ship repair and places of dry-docking facilities. This is a clear indication that those activities are the main source of contamination in the study area. The estimated correlation of TBT concentration in sediments with total organic carbon and the amount of fine fraction (<0.063 mm) was significant for most of the stations. The TBT concentration in those sites varies from 1 to 100 ng Sn g(-1). This fact indicates that the most intensive accumulation of tributyltin is related to potential contamination source areas (ship repairing, dockyards) due to direct input of hazardous substances into the water.

Stability studies of endocrine disrupting tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds in an artificial sea water model

“…Additionally, the use of modern sensitive and selective instrumental technique for their study is very important as it makes monitoring of marine environment and determination more reliable, economical and suitable for routine determinations. As shown earlier, data on the availability of organotins in the environment are available (Arp et al 2014;Rodriguez-Cea et al 2015, Suzdalev et al 2015. However, the importance of our study is based on non-availability of data on triorganotin degradation/stabil-ity of these substances.…”

“…Consequently, the development of modern sensitive and selective instrumental analytical techniques for the extraction, pre-concentration and determination these substances followed (Cole et al 2015). This resulted in some data available on the presence of organotin substances in the environment (Arp et al 2014;Rodriguez-Cea et al 2015;Suzdalev et al 2015). However, no data are available on the rate of degradation of individual triorganotin substances in the sea environment.…”

Effects of Tributyltin Exposure in the Male Mammal’s Reproductive System: A Systematic Review

“…Although such usage is now under strict legislation, it remains a widespread environmental contaminant (13,14,15) still being detected in water, sediment, and urban runoff, generating unease about possible impacts on estuaries, freshwater, and coastal areas (16,17,18) . TBT is an endocrine disruptor which compromises reproductive capacity and sexual development in many species (19) .…”