• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.164-169
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• 2003

Organotins are widely used organometals in various agricultural and industrial purposes. After introduction of these chemicals to the aquatic environment, they are degraded by abiotic and biotic precesses. The triorganotin compounds are sequentially degraded to di-organotin, mono-organotin and then finally inorganic tin. Although the effects of trialkyltin an marine organisms have been intensively studied, little has been known on plankton as a producer of ecosystem. In this paper, the toxicities of dibutyltin (DBT), monobutyltin (MBT), diphenyltin (DPT), monophenyltin (MPT), trimethyltin (TMT) and dimethyltin (DMT) to rotifer Brachionus plicatilis were measured, and their potencies were compared based on 96 hr-$LC_{50}$ value. The results showed that DPT (13.8 ppb) was the highest toxic, which was followed by TMT (42.9), DBT (80.6), MPT (262.2), MBT and DMT (>1,000) in order. Thus, in tri- and diorganotins, the toxicity was observed phenyltins > butyltins > methyltins, and in mono-organotins phenyltins was more toxic than butyltins. Considering the order of 96 hr--$LC_{50}$ with octanol-water eoefficients ($K_{ow}$) in organotins together, it was considered that the toxicity of organotins seems to be related to the lipophilicity of the compounds.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.64-70
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• 1998

Forty sediment samples from Kyeonggi Bay, Korea were analyzed for butyltins, including tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT), and monobutyltin (MBT) to determine their distribution and source in this area. Total butyltin concentrations in Kyeonggi Bay sediments ranged from 0.8 to 297 ng/g dry wt. with a mean value of 38 ng/g. The highest butyltin concentration was found in the innermost site in Incheon Harbor basin. The mouth of Han River had higher butyltin levels in sediments compared to open ocean. Butyltin levels correlated well with organic carbon content of sediment, but the major factor was the distance from the source area where antifouling paints were used for vessels and marine structures. Butyltin concentrations in the study area were lower than those reported for bays in other parts of the world. Considering the high toxic potential and sediment/water partition coefficient of TBT, further studies are needed to assess its biological effect in the marine ecosystem of Kyeonggi Bay.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22
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• pp.63-70
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• 2004

Tributyltin (TBT) and its degradation products, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) were quantitatively determined in surface sediments and two molluscan species, Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and rock shell (Thais ctavigera), from Gwangyang Bay, Korea. Butyltin compounds were detectable in almost all sediment and biota samples. Tributyltin concentrations in surface sediment ranged<2∼33 ng g$\^$-1/, which is at a lower end of TBT concentrations in industrialized bays in Korea. However, TBT levels in sediments were related to boating activities around the bay. In biota samples, TBT concentrations were in the range of 178∼2,458 ng g$\^$-1/ toy oyster and 47∼236 ng g$\^$-1/ for rock shell. Relatively high TBT concentrations in biota were found near wharves for fisherboats and harbor areas. About 90∼100％ of the female T. clavigera displayed imposex, and relative penis length index of the imposexed-female was in the range of 20.9∼107.9％. Furthermore, TBT body residue had a significant positive relationship with degree of imposex in T. clavigera. Overall, TBT concentrations in Gwanyang Bay were much lower than other major bays in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.385-394
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• 2011

Organotin compounds (OTs), namely butyltins compounds (BTs) and phenyltin compounds (PhTs), were measured in surface and core sediments collected in Jeju harbor. The horizontal and vertical distribution was examined and the relationship between the concentration of OTs and organic matter content and particle size distribution was also studied. BTs were detected in significant concentrations in sediments inside Jeju harbor. PhTs were detected in very low concentrations, compared to BTs. The main species in BTs and PhTs were dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), monophenyltin (MPhT), respectively. In the relationships between the concentrations of total BTs and organic carbon content, the significant correlations ($r^2$=0.4898 in surface sediments, $r^2$=0.53 in one core sediments) and no correlation in another core sediments obtained, which is estimated that the distribution of BTs in sediments were affected by several factors, such as their physicochemical properties including organic carbon content, and a tide, etc. In the relationships between the concentrations of total BTs and particle size (mud, sand, and gravel) in sediments, the concentrations of total BTs were higher in the sediments with higher mud content, indicating that higher BTs were distributed with increasing sediments of fine granules.