Organotin Compounds and Selected Metals in the Marine Environment of Northern Adriatic Sea

Abstract

The extent of pollution with organotin compounds and Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Mn, V, Co and Al was investigated in sediments and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Slovenian costal area of the Northern Adriatic Sea. Sampling was performed in Marina Portoroz, Dockyard Izola, non exposed area of the Bay of Mesecev zaliv and in Mariculture Secovlje. Mussels were taken in the summer and winter time, while sediments were collected during the winter sampling. Organotin compounds were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and metals by flame or electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The accuracies of the analytical procedures were checked by the analysis of standard reference materials CRM 477 mussel tissue and PACS 2 marine sediment (organotin compounds) and SRM 2976 mussel tissue and CRM 320 river sediment (metals). Good agreements between certified and determined values were obtained. Normalization procedure to Al was applied to estimate the anthropogenic inputs of metals in sediments. The analyses of sediments demonstrated moderate pollution with organotin compounds in Marina Portoroz and in Dockyard Izola. Concentrations of tributyltin species were higher than those of dibutyltin and monobutyltin. In mussels substantial contamination with tributyltin was observed in Marina Porotroz and Dockyard Izola. The extent of pollution was higher in the winter time. The analysis of metals in sediments exhibited elevated concentrations in Marina Portoroz and Dockyard Izola. Data from the normalization procedure indicated the anthropogenic inputs of Cu, Zn and Cr in Marina Portoroz and Mn in Bay of Mesecev zaliv and Dockyard Izola. Mussels, as accumulators of pollutants, in general contained higher metal concentrations during winter time in Dockyard Izola.

A complex investigation of the extent of pollution in sediments of the Sava River. Part 1: Selected elements

“…In order to estimate the natural and antrophogenic input of elements in sediments, normalization approaches are commonly used, based on correlations between the concentration of trace elements and the element that is naturally present in the environment investigated. For this purpose, Al as a major constituent of aluminosilicates and Fe as a clay mineral indicator element have usually been applied (Loring and Rantala 1992;Din 1992;Svete et al 2000;Kotnik et al 2003;Ščančar et al 2007). However, these elements cannot be used in normalization if they are present in sediments as a consequence of external contamination, e.g., mining or industrial activities (Svete et al 2000).…”

A complex investigation of the extent of pollution in sediments of the Sava River: part 2: persistent organic pollutants

“…Trisubstituted OTC, including TBT and TPhT, are among the most hazardous pollutants to enter aquatic ecosystems (Hoch 2001 EC 2000). Although OTC were intensively investigated in the marine environment (Coelho et al 2002;Díez et al 2005;Godoi et al 2003;Gomez-Ariza et al 2001;Harino et al 1999;Milivojevič Nemanič et al 2002Ščančar et al 2007), they are a rare subject of research in river sediments (Bancon-Montigny et al 2004;ICPDR 2002;Lacorte et al 2006;Scrimshaw et al 2005).…”

A Survey of Organotin Compounds in the Northern Adriatic Sea

“…For the Slovenian coast, which is the eastern part of the Gulf of Trieste, a few data from the years 2000 to 2002 are available (Ščančar et al 2007;Milivojevič Nemanič et al 2002). Therefore, the aim of our work was a systematic investigation of spatial and temporal pollution with OTC, namely TBT, TPhT and trioctyltin (TOcT) and their degradation products in water, sediments and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Slovenian costal area of the Northern Adriatic Sea.…”