Concentration of Tributyltin in the Surface Microlayer of Natural Waters

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
High concentrations of the very toxic antifouling agent tributyltin have been found in 24 surface microlayer samples in a survey of 74 locations in Ontario, Quebec, and New York State. In 6 of these 24 locations the concentration of tributyltin in the surface microlayer exceeded the 24-hr LC-50 value for adult rainbow trout. The most heavily contaminated area was the mouth of the Moira River at Belleville, Ontario, where the concentration of tributyltin in the surface microlayer was 42 times the 24-hr LC-50 value for trout. The concentration of tributyltin in the surface microlayer was occasionally so much greater than that in subsurface water that the microlayer contained a significant amount of tributyltin relative to that in the whole depth of the subsurface water. Similar findings were observed for the less toxic degradation products of tributyltin - dibutyltin, monobutyltin and inorganic tin.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: