Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Despite regulations, ecotoxicologically relevant contamination of marine ecosystems is
persisting, particularly in sediments. The recent spread into developing countries indi-
cates that organotin contamination has ongoing ecotoxicological relevance globally.
Keywords
Ecotoxicological effects
·
Environmental contamination
·
Organotins
·
Tr ibut y lt i n
·
Triphenyltin
Abbreviations
BCF bioconcentration factor
DBT dibutyltin
DOM dissolved organic matter
K
p
distribution ratio between particulate and dissolved fraction
K
ow
n
-octanol-water distribution coefficient
p
K
a
acidity constant
PVC polyvinyl chloride
MBT monobutyltin
TBT tributyltin
TBT
+
tributyltin cation
TBTCl tributyltin chloride
TBTOH tributyltin hydroxide
TPT triphenyltin
TPT
+
triphenyltin cation
TPTCl triphenyltin chloride
TPTOH triphenyltin hydroxide
1
Introduction
Organotins belong to the most important anthropogenic organometallic com-
pounds. Trisubstituted organotins are of considerable environmental concern
due to their extremely high toxicity to aquatic life, which has resulted in
population declines in marine oysters [1] and snails [2]. Organotins are pro-
duced for different purposes. About 70% of the total annual world production
is devoted to the stabilization of PVC (mainly dibutyl-, and dioctyltins, mono-
substituted organotins), catalysts in the production of polyurethane foams,
silicones and in other industrial processes. About 20-25%areusedasbio-
cides in agrochemicals and in a broad spectrum of applications such as an-
tifouling paints, and fungicides in timber and wood protection. Tributyltins
(TBT) are also used for protection of textiles, leather and other materials,
as well as a disinfecting agent [3]. The annual world production of organo-
tins may reach 50 000 t [4]. The agricultural and biocidal use of organotins,
mainly in antifouling paints, gives rise to the largest direct environmental in-
put. The current application of TBT lies mainly in its use as a preservative for
timber and wood, and other materials, but it TBT is still used in antifouling
paints, mainly in developing countries.
