title: Concentrations of organotin compounds and imposex in the gastropod Hexaplex trunculus from the Lagoon of Venice.
abstract: In four stations located close to the channels connecting the Lagoon of Venice with the Adriatic Sea (two inside the lagoon and two outside it), individuals of Hexaplex trunculus were collected in order to assess their contamination. Concentrations of some organotin compounds, i.e. tributyltin and triphenyltin with their di- and mono- substituted metabolites, were measured and endocrine disruption such as imposex (superimposition of male sexual characteristics on females of gonochoristic gastropods) was observed. Vas deferens sequence indexes (VDSI) of 4.1-4.9 were found in organisms from stations inside the lagoon, and 3.6-4.2 in the sea stations. Organotin derivatives were measured in both the visceral coil and the rest of the soft body of the organisms. Total concentrations of butyltin compounds ranged from 102 +/- 17 to 432 +/- 27 ng Sn g(-1) d.w. in the visceral coil, and from 96 +/- 24 to 297 +/- 107 ng Sn g(-1) d.w. in the rest of the soft body. Phenyltins were found at far lower concentrations, ranging from 8 +/- 1 to 41 +/- 3 ng Sn g(-1) d.w. (visceral coil) and from 0.25 to 32 +/- 22 ng Sn g(-1) d.w. (rest of soft body). The degree of imposex in female gastropods, evaluated from VDSI and penis lengths, was related to organotin contents in the soft body. In particular, female penis lengths were significantly correlated (r = 0.917 and r = 0.982, P<0.05) to tributyltin (TBT) contents and the sum of organotin compounds in organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Venice, Calle Larga S. Marta 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pellizzato
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Centanni
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moschino
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pavoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007558:Italy; D008974:Mollusca / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012623:Seawater; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin