Imposex in Hexaplex trunculus (Gastropoda: Muricidae): first results from biomonitoring of tributyltin contamination in the Mediterranean

Axiak, Victor; Vella, Alfred J.; Micallef, D.; Chircop, P.; Mintoff, Bernardette

doi:10.1007/bf00349304

Cited by 106 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Similar results have been observed worldwide: on the northeastern Brazilian coast, in relation to S. rustica (Castro et al, 2007(Castro et al, , 2008, in the Mediterranean, in relation to Hexaplex trunculus (L.) (Axiak et al, 1995), and in several harbors in Europe and in Halifax harbor, Canada, in relation to Nucella lapillus (L.) (Sousa et al, 2009). Other studies have also confirmed that areas near harbors and marinas are hotspots for TBT pollution (Barroso et al, 2002;Sousa et al, 2005).…”

Section: Imposex In Stramonita Rustica On Southern Bahia Coastsupporting

confidence: 85%

Assessment of tributyltin contamination based on imposex in Stramonita rustica (Mollusca: Gastropoda) along southern Bahia coast, northeastern Brazil

Zeidan

Boehs

2017

Braz. J. Biol.

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This study investigated the effects of tributyltin (TBT) on the morphology of the genital system of the gastropod Stramonita rustica in southern Bahia, Brazil. For this, 330 specimens were collected during the summer of 2014 at eight sampling points to ascertain whether male sex organs had developed in addition to the complete female genital tract in females (= imposex). The analyses were made under a stereoscopic microscope. Imposex and their associated indexes, and the sterile females, exhibited the highest rates in harbors and shipyards areas. Despite the total ban of TBT in anti-fouling paints on a global scale since 2003, the results of this and other studies indicate the continued use of those paints on the Brazilian coast. This shows the inefficiency of existing legislation and the need to strengthen enforcement of the ban.Keywords: antifouling, sterilization, harbors, TBT. Avaliação da contaminação por tributil-estanho baseada em imposex em Stramonita rustica (Mollusca: Gastropoda) ao longo do Litoral Sul da Bahia ResumoEste estudo investigou os efeitos de tributil-estanho (TBT) sobre a morfologia do sistema genital do gastrópode Stramonita rustica (Lamarck, 1822) no Litoral Sul da Bahia, Brasil. Para isso, 330 espécimens foram coletados durante o verão de 2014 em oito pontos de amostragem, para verificar se os órgãos sexuais masculinos tinham se desenvolvido para além do trato genital feminino completo (= imposex). As análises foram feitas sob um microscópio estereoscópico. O imposex e seus índices associados, assim como as fêmeas estéreis, apresentaram as maiores taxas em áreas portuárias e estaleiros. Apesar da proibição total do TBT em tintas anti-incrustantes em escala global desde 2003, os resultados deste e de outros estudos indicam a continuidade de uso dessas tintas na costa brasileira. Isso mostra a ineficácia da legislação vigente e reforça a necessidade de se cumprir integralmente o banimento.Palavras-chave: antifouling, esterilização, portos, TBT.

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Section: Imposex In Stramonita Rustica On Southern Bahia Coastsupporting

confidence: 85%

Assessment of tributyltin contamination based on imposex in Stramonita rustica (Mollusca: Gastropoda) along southern Bahia coast, northeastern Brazil

Zeidan

Boehs

2017

Braz. J. Biol.

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“…Shell length was measured with the aid of a vernier calliper and after removing the soft parts from the shell, sex was determined based on the presence (female) or absence (male) of albumen and sperm ingestion glands ( Figure 3) (Gibbs & Bryan, 1987;Horiguchi et al, 1994;Spence et al, 1990). Penis length was also measured in males and imposexed females as in Axiak et al (1995) e . Imposex occurs at different levels which are related to TBT concentrations in water and in gastropod food; i.e., to the presence of this compound in the local environment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This trend to higher imposex indexes (RPSI > 10; RPLI >30; VDSI ≥ II) with increasing boat traffic or anchoring and water stagnation is a typical feature of TBT contamination (Axiak et al, 1995;Smith & McVeagh, 1991;Spence et al, 1990;) that has been used to map zones of influence in a regional (Minchin et al, 1996;Minchin & Minchin, 1997) and national scale (Horiguchi et al, 1994(Horiguchi et al, , 1997bten HallersTjabbes et al, 1994ten HallersTjabbes et al, , 1996. A few authors Table 2 Results of biological monitoring in Guanabara Bay.…”

Section: Imposex In Guanabara Bay Rio De Janeiromentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main biological alterations initially ascribed to the widespread use of organotins were balling in oysters (Alzieu et al, , 1989Axiak et al, 1995;Dyrinda, 1992), death of mollusk larvae (Horigushi et al, 1998) and imposition of male sexual characteristics to females of gastropods (Ellis & Pattisina, 1990;Fioroni et al, 1991;Gibbs & Bryan, 1987). This last effect, denominated imposex is induced in several gastropod species both in the field and in laboratory studies at very low concentrations of TBT (imposex is initiated at less than 1ng/L -1 TBT in Nucella lapilus, and at 3-5ng/L -1 all females may be sterilized (Gibbs & Bryan, 1994; concentrations of 1ng/L -1 can induce imposex development in Thais clavigera, Horiguchi et al, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Occurrence of imposex in Thais haemastoma: possible evidence of environmental contamination derived from organotin compounds in Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, Brazil

et al. 2002

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There are indications that the widespread use of organotin compounds (TBT and TPT) as antifoulings, as stabilizers in plastic and as pesticides, has severely affected several species of marine organisms. The most striking effect of TBT and TPT as hormonal disruptors is the development of male organs in females of gastropods, currently denominated imposex. This syndrome can lead to the sterilization and death of affected organisms. The present work gives an overview of the present state of knowledge on imposex occurrence and reports results of a survey conducted in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro and in several sites along the coast of Fortaleza, Ceará State. Different stages of imposex development were verified in this survey, however, the most prominent levels appeared associated to known spot sources of TBT and TPT.

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“…ORGANOTIN POLLUTION 503 TBT is known to cause imposex in marine gastropods. In a recent study [25] it was shown that all specimens of female species of Hexaplex trunculus collected from several Malta sites were imposexed to some degree. The biological availability of sedimentary butyltins is not well understood.…”

Section: Butyltin Species In Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organotin pollution in Malta coastal zone

Vella

Mintoff

Axiak

et al. 1998

Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry

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The speciation of organotins in seawater, surface microlayer and sediments in the marine environment of Malta is described. Concentrations of tributyltin (TBT) in bulk seawater inside the harbours were as high as 0.3 μg Sn L -1 but were below detection limits (5 ng Sn L -1 ) in open sea, 1.6 km offshore. In sediments, TBT levels were highest for the yacht marinas and ranged between 0.03 and 1.5 ug Sn g -1 . Dibutyltin is more common in the surface microlayer than TBT. Diphenyl and monophenyltin were found infrequently in bulk seawater and in sediments. Tetrasubstituted organotins, namely, Me n Bu (4 _ n) Sn, where n = 1, 2, and 3, were found frequently in TBT-contaminated sediments (0.1-9μg Sng -1 ), in seawater and in the microlayer where concentrations as high as 140 μg Sn L -1 (Me 3 BuSn) were measured. Direct environmental methylation of TBT and that of its debutylated analogues may play a significant role in the geochemical cycling of tin under certain environmental conditions.

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Imposex in Hexaplex trunculus (Gastropoda: Muricidae): first results from biomonitoring of tributyltin contamination in the Mediterranean

Cited by 106 publications

References 12 publications

Assessment of tributyltin contamination based on imposex in Stramonita rustica (Mollusca: Gastropoda) along southern Bahia coast, northeastern Brazil

Assessment of tributyltin contamination based on imposex in Stramonita rustica (Mollusca: Gastropoda) along southern Bahia coast, northeastern Brazil

Occurrence of imposex in Thais haemastoma: possible evidence of environmental contamination derived from organotin compounds in Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, Brazil

Organotin pollution in Malta coastal zone

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