Environ. Sci. Technol. 2004, 38, 1415-1420
Organotin Compounds in the Liver Tissue of Marine Mammals from the Polish Coast of the Baltic Sea TOMASZ CIESIELSKI,† ANDRZEJ WASIK,‡ IWONA KUKLIK,§ KRZYSZTOF SKO Ä RA,§ J A C E K N A M I E SÄ N I K , ‡ A N D P I O T R S Z E F E R * ,† Department of Food Sciences, Medical University of Gdan ´ sk, 107 Hallera Street, 80-416 Gdan ´ sk, Poland, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdan ´ sk University of Technology, 11/12 G. Narutowicza Street, 80-952 Gdan ´ sk, Poland, and Hel Marine Station, University of Gdan ´ sk, 9 Morska Street, 84-150 Hel, P.O. Box 37, Poland
Butyltins (BTs) and phenyltins (PhTs) were determined in the livers of marine mammals found by-caught or stranded along the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea. During the investigation an original analytical method was developed. Butyltin compounds were detected in all the liver samples, whereas phenyltins were not detected in any of the samples. The total concentrations of BTs ranged from 43.9 to 7698 ng(Sn)‚g-1 dry weight. Age-related trends to accumulate BTs in immature porpoises were found. At the same time there were no male-female differences in BTs concentrations observed. No statistically significant spatial distribution differences were found between the locations corresponding to the open Baltic Sea waters and inside the Gulf of Gdan´ sk, which is characterized by high maritime activity. In comparison to butyltin levels in marine mammals from other geographic regions, the samples analyzed indicate a significant degree of tributyltin pollution along the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea. On the basis of a literature review, higher BT levels are usually found in waters close to highly industrialized areas, such as Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Introduction Since the late 1950s, the biocidal properties of trisubstituted organotin compounds have been known. Their use as antifouling agents in marine paints led to contamination of various marine environments. In consequence, tributyltin (TBT)-based antifouling paints were banned on small vessels
