• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2001

Butyltin compounds, including mono-(MBT), di-(DBT) and tributyltin(TBT) were analyzed in 44 human blood samples randomly collected from a hospital in "K" a city. Gas chromatograph equipped with flame photometric detector(FPD) was used to quantify the amounts of butylin compounds. Method detection limits(MDL) of this analytical method were 3.69ng Sn/g for MBT, 0.91ng Sn/g for DBT and 1.09ng Sn/g wet wt for TBT respectively. Standard reference material(SRM) containing of $1.3{\mu}g/g$ TBT as chloride was analyzed to check if this analytical results would be reliable. Recovery of about 90% was obtained through this analysis, indicating that the analytical method from butyltin compounds blood was reliable. The concentrations of butyltin compounds ranged MDL(<3.69) to 7.93ng Sn/g for MBT and 1.15 to 5.41ng Sn/g wet wt for DBT. Tributyltin was below detection limit in all samples. Detection limits of our results are lower than those reported by Kannan et al. who reported butyltin compounds in 33 human blood samples in the United States. Detection of MBT and DBT on blood sample implies that butyltin compounds could be absorbed through consumption of seafoods or exposure to food stuffs made of plastics and household items. Further study is needed to examine if butyltin compounds in blood can be reliably analyzed and used as intake index.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.923-928
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• 1997

The occurrence of butyltin compounds in the seawater and sediment of Masan Bay was investigated. The concentrations were in the range of $ND-0.059{\mu}g/\ell$ for tributyltin (TBT), $ND-0.091{\mu}g/\ell$ for dibutyltin (DBT) and $ND-0.720{\mu}g/\ell$ for monobutyltin (MBT) in the seawater, and $ND-0.233{\mu}g\;TBT/g.dry$, $ND-0.197{\mu}g-DBT/g.dry$ and $ND-0.684{\mu}g-MBT/g.dry$ in the sediment. Among the butyltin compounds, the major component in the seawater was MBT, while the predominant species in the sediment changed with time. The tributyltin concentrations in the sediment are approximately three orders of magnitude greater than the associated water column levels. Sediment/water partition coefficients (K) of TBT were between $0.6\times10^3\;and\;5.0\times10^3$.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.753-762
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• 2003

Butyltin compounds (BTs), namely tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), were measured in surface sediments collected in 2001 inside Hallim Harbor where a lot of shipping occurs as one of major harbors of Jeju Island, in order to evaluate their distribution. BTs were detected in surface sediments of all stations and their concentrations were comparable to those in surface sediments of other sites of domestic and foreign countries. The main species among BTs was MBT, although there was a little difference with a survey site. No correlations were obtained between organic matter or particles size of surface sediments and total BTs, indicating that these factors did not affect on the distribution of BTs. It was estimated that more complex factors including BTs loads and surrounding sedimentary environments, affected on the distribution of BTs. The high correlations between BTs indicated that DBT and MBT were mainly degraded from TBT based on antifouling paints of vessel etc. and other sources, such as DBT and MBT, could be ignored. The butyltin degradation indexes ([DBT] + [MBT]/[TBT]) Ivere in the range of 1.5∼3.3 (mean 2.5), indicating that the parent compound, TBT, were inflowed into the surface sediments a long years ago and degraded.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.655-665
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• 2011

Contamination of butyltin compounds (BTs), namely tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), was evaluated in sediments collected inside Jeju Harbor in 2001. The concentrations of BTs in surface sediments were comparable to those in other sites of domestic and foreign countries. The high correlations between BTs in surface ($r^2$ = 0.83~0.91) and core ($r^2$ = 0.70~0.79) sediments and the significant correlations between BTs concentrations and the number of incoming and outgoing vessels indicated that DBT and MBT were mainly degraded from TBT based on antifouling paints of vessels etc. and other sources, such as DBT and MBT, could be ignored. The butyltin degradation indices ([DBT] + [MBT]/[TBT]) in surface sediments were in the range of 2.2~3.6 (mean 2.7), indicating that the parent compound, TBT, was inflowed into the surface sediments a long ago, degraded and deposited. The sedimentation age of BTs contaminated core sediments could not estimated because the content of $^{210}Pb$ activity was nearly all the same and so the sedimentation rate could not obtained.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.360-368
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• 2009

Tributyltin (TBT) use has been prohibited by the IMO (International Maritime Organization), as well as Korea, since 2003. This prohibition has affected a gradual reduction in TBT use in maritime environs (seawater, sediment, and biosamples) in several countries. In this study, Crassostrea gigas (oyster) and Tapes philippinarum (manila clam) were chosen and measured for butyltin compound concentrations to verify TBT pollution levels since its 2003 ban. Specimens were taken directly from farms for concentration measurement, where Crassostrea gigas and Tapes philippinarum are cultivated, as well as prevalent locations predicted to have been polluted. Concentrations of MBT, DBT, and TBT of Crassostrea gigas were measured to be N.D -N.D., N.D. -N.D., and N.D. -60.21 ng Sn $g^{-1}$ (wet wt), respectively. Regarding Tapes philippinarum, MBT, DBT, and TBT were N.D. -12.27 ng Sn $g^{-1}$ (wet wt), N.D. -45.95 ng Sn $g^{-1}$ (wet wt), and N.D.-7.30 ng Sn $g^{-1}$ (wet wt), respectively. For this research, a correlative study was conducted to determine butyltin compound concentration in Crassostrea gigas at the locations where measurements were made in 1994 to determine to what extent TBT pollution level decreased. A decrease in all 7 sites was observed. In 4 of the 7 samples, butyltin compounds were measured to be below the detection limit, while that of the Tapes philippinarum did not appear high compared to foreign research data.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1141-1153
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• 2005

Butyltin compounds (BTs), namely tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), were measured in surface and core sediments collected in 2001 inside Seogwipo Harbor, in order to evaluate their distribution characteristics. Seogwipo Harbor is one of major harbors of Jeju Island where a lot of shipping occurs and is designated as a trade port by the Korea Maritime and Port Law. BTs were detected in surface and core sediments of all stations and their concentrations in surface sediments were low, compared with to those in other sites of domestic and foreign countries. The main species among BTs was MBT, although there was a little difference with a survey site in surface sediments and in core sediments with depth. No or low correlations were obtained between organic matter or particles size of surface and core sediments and total BTs, indicating that these factors did not affect the distribution of BTs. It was estimated that more complex factors including BTs loads and surrounding sedimentary environments, affect the distribution of BTs. The high correlations between BTs indicated that DBT and MBT were mainly degraded from TBT based on antifouling paints of vessel etc. and other sources, such as DBT and MBT, could be ignored. The butyltin degradation indices ([DBT]+[MBT]/[TBT]) in surface sediments were in the range of $2.0\~3.8$ (mean 3.0), indicating that the parent compound, TBT, were inflowed into the surface sediments a long years ago, degraded and deposited. The sedimentation age of BTs contaminated core sediments could not estimated because the content of $^{210}pb$ activity were nearly all the same and so the sedimentation rate could not obtained.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 2011

Butyltin compounds in seawater, sediments and organisms inside Jeju Harbor of Jeju Island, Korea, were quantitatively determined to assess the extent of contamination and to evaluate the bioaccumulation in Thais clavigera (gastropod), Liolophura japonica and Cellana nigrolineata. In addition, imposex in T. clavigera was used to assess the sublethal effect of tributyltin compounds and its usage as a specific biomarker for these compounds was also studied. The main species in seawater was tributyltin (TBT) in March and June, monobutyltin (MBT) in August, but in sediments and organisms it was dibutyltin (DBT) and TBT, respectively, irrespective of survey time. TBT, the most toxic to aquatic organisms among BTs, was found at concentrations which were sufficient to have a serous effect on the sensitive organisms upon chronic exposure. The high correlations (r>0.7) between BTs indicated that DBT and MBT were mainly degraded from TBT based on antifouling paints and their sources were negligible. The sedimentary organic matters have little influence on the distribution of BTs in marine environment and the lipid content in T. clavigera showed a significant correlation with TBT concentrations. Measurement of imposex T. clavigera was expected to be a very helpful tool for preliminary survey of BTs prior to trace analysis of those.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1508-1512
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• 2004

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) method has been developed for the determination of trace mono-n-butyltin (MBT), di-n-butyltin (DBT), and tri-n-butyltin (TBT) compounds in sediments. Samples were extracted by 10% acetic acid in methanol containing 0.03% tropolone and were then derivatized for GC/MS analysis. Ethylation by sodium tetraethylborate and phenylation by sodium tetraphenylborate were evaluated as a derivatization reaction of the organotins in sample extract. n-Hexane was added into reaction media in the beginning of the reaction for the continuous extraction of derivatized organotins. Ethylation requires less than 2 hours to get proper derivatization yields for MBT, DBT, and TBT altogether and produces relatively low amounts of side reaction products. Compared to ethylation, phenylation requires much longer time but provides relatively lower yield and produces considerable amounts of side reaction products. Therefore, the ethylation reaction was applied for the analysis of organotin compounds in sediment. An isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) method based on GC/MS has been applied to the accurate determination of DBT compounds in the sediments. The IDMS results from the analyses of sediment samples showed a reasonable repeatability and a good agreement with the values obtained by IDMS based on liquid chromatography/induced coupled plasma/mass spectrometry.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.1 s.56
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• pp.19-26
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• 2007

Accumulation of tributyltin (TBT) in serum, liver and muscle of olive flounder (Paralichtys olivaceus) was investigated in a 60-d static renewal exposure at $0.1{\mu}g$ TBT/L. Tributyltin accumulated rapidly from 83 ng Sn/g to 2,227 ng Sn/g on a wet weight basis in the serum of the olive flounder and to a greater extent than in the other tissues. The accumulated TBT concentrations in tissues were in the order of serum>liver>muscle on wet or dry-weight basis. High concentrations of dibutyltin (DBT: 990 ng Sn/g dry wt) and monobutyltin (MBT: 141 ng Sn/g dry wt), degradation products of TBT were found in liver of olive flounder at the end of exposure. On the other hand, DBT and MBT was below the detection limits in muscle during the exposure, and only low concentration of DBT (56 ng Sn/g) were detectefd in serum. Butyltin compounds were also quantitatively determined in feral fine-spotted flounder (Pleuronichthys cornutus) collected from Gwangyang Bay as one of polluted area and Sori Island as a reference site. All three butyltin compounds were detected from the fine-spotted flounder from Gwangyang Bay up to 3,107 ng Sn/g of total butyltins in liver, while 120 ng Sn/g of total butyltin concentration was found in the liver of fish from Sori Island.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2000

Butyltin compounds (BTs) in seawater, sediments and organisms (Thais clavigera, Liolophura japonica and Cellana nigrolineata), were quantitatively determined to evaluate their distribution inside Songsan Harbor of Cheju Island. In addition, imposex in T. clavigera was used to assess the effect on organisms of BTs. Analysis of the samples collected in seawater, sediments (March, June and August) and organisms (May, July and August) in 1998, confirmed the contamination of BTs in the aquatic environment inside Songsan Harbor. The main BTs species in seawater and sediments was monobutyltin (MBT), tributyltin (TBT), respectively, irrespective of survey time. In oranisms, TBT and dibutyltin (DBT) were detected in similar concentrations for T. clavigera and L. japonica, but for C nigrolineata, DBt concentration was the highest. TBT, the most toxic to aquatic organisms among BTs, was found at concentrations which were sufficient to have a serious effect on the sensitive organisms upon chronic exposure, The relatively high correlations (r>0.83) between BTs indicated that DBT and MBT were mainly degraded from TBT based on antifouling paint and their sources were negligible. The sedimentary organic matters did not have influence on the distribution of BTs in marine environment, and lipid content in T. clavigera did not show a correlation with TBT concentrations. The rate of occurrence of imposex in T. clavigera was 100%, and the relative penis length index (RPLI) and the relative penis size index (RPSI) which represent the degree of imposex were 79.7%, 58.1%, respectively. Measurement of imposex in T. clavigera was expected to be a very helpful tool for preliminary survey of BTs prior to trace analysis of BTs.