Imposex still evident in eastern Australia 10 years after tributyltin restrictions.
A survey of imposex in Thais orbita (Neogastropoda) along the New South Wales (NSW) coast, Australia, found imposex was still widespread 10 years after a partial ban on tributyltin (TBT) based antifouling paints. Transplant experiments also revealed that imposex was induced in T. orbita over a period of 9 weeks in Sydney Harbour, NSW. A comparison of the imposex data with that collected shortly after the introduction of restrictions on TBT revealed a general decline in imposex frequency occurring at open coast sites, an exception being the site at South West Rocks. Sites located within harbour/bay areas did not display a decline in imposex frequency but a decline in the severity of imposex was apparent. The observed decrease in imposex values in T. orbita may reflect a general decrease of butyltin contamination within the coastal environment. However, the persistence of contamination "hotspots" within harbours and bays remains a concern.
Gibson
Craig P
CP
School of Arts and Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Locked Bag 968, North Sydney, NSW 2059, Australia.
Wilson
Scott P
SP
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000002:abnormalities*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008386:Marine Biology; D008974:Mollusca / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects; D009517:New South Wales; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin