title: TBT contamination identified in Antarctic marine sediments.
abstract: We report for the first time butyltin contamination of near-shore sediments at six sites in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. A very high concentration of 2290 microg Sn kg(-1) sediment was recorded in one sample. The most likely source is abrasion of antifouling paint from the hulls of ice-breakers, but this pattern of contamination is also possible following ship groundings. Antifoulant biocides, such as TBT, have not been considered or detected in Antarctica previously and represent a new challenge to environmental managers and custodians.
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia. a.negri@aims.gov.au
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Hales
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Battershill
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D012767:Ships; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; C011559:tributyltin