Chemistry and Fate of Organotin Antifouling Biocides in the Environment - Antifouling Paint Biocides - page 24

Fig. 1 The equilibration of TBT between particulates and water. The vessel initially con-
taining 500 ml water, 1 g sediment and 300 ng 14 C-labeled TBT [25]

inorganic tin and organotin compounds entering mammals through food are
excreted within a short period of time [29]. For example, the biological re-
tention of SnCl 2 in rats is 2 days ( 98%) [30]. Inorganic tin has little or no

effect on the animals, and common organotin compounds and inorganic tin
compounds pass rapidly through the animals [29].
In the organotin series expressed by formula; R n SnX 4- n (R = carbon-bonded
organic group; X = inorganic substituent; and n = 1-4), it is now well estab-

Fig. 2 Dependence of the biological activity of tri- n -alkyltin acetates on the nature of the
alkyl group for different species [13, 14]