Imposex in the rock shell, Thais clavigera, as evidence of organotin contamination in the marine environment of Korea.
Imposex was measured in the rock shell, Thais clavigera, from the coast of the Korean peninsula. Frequency of imposex was 0% at two reference sites, but at 47 out of 61 sites, frequency of imposex was recorded as 100%. The degree of imposex was relatively high at the sites near a harbor and a shipyard. Tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) concentrations in T. clavigera ranged from 5 to 508 ng/g and from 3 to 2460 ng/g, respectively. A significant positive relationship was found between degree of imposex and organotin concentration, whereas a significant negative relationship was obtained between female-to-male sex ratio and the degree of imposex. During a field transplantation of T. clavigera from a pristine area to a port, TBT and TPT were accumulated in T. clavigera, and imposex was induced. T. clavigera shows considerable potential as a bioindicator species of the adverse effects of TBT and TPT contamination.
Shim
W J
WJ
Chemical Oceanography Division, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, Ansan PO Box 29, Seoul 425-600, South Korea. wjshim@sari.kordi.re.kr
Kahng
S H
SH
Hong
S H
SH
Kim
N S
NS
Kim
S K
SK
Shim
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000002:abnormalities*; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008974:Mollusca / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D012744:Sex Ratio; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*
D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin; C030665:triphenyltin