Accumulation of butyl- and phenyltin compounds in starfish and bivalves from the coastal environment of Korea.
Triphenyltin (TPT) and tributyltin (TBT) concentrations were determined in two starfish species (Asteria pectinifera and Asterias amurensis), bivalves (Crassostrea gigas or Mytilus edulis), and seawater samples from sites around the coasts of Korea. Both TPT and TBT concentrations in starfish ranged from 8 to 1560 ng/g and from <2 to 797 ng/g as Sn on a dry weight basis, respectively. TPT concentration accounted for 75.4% and 86.4% of total phenyltin concentration in A. pectinifera and A. amurensis, respectively, while monobutyltin, a degradation product of TBT, accounted for 86.3% and 57.2% of total butyltin, respectively. Triphenyltin concentrations in A. pectinifera were significantly correlated to water and bivalve TPT concentrations, which implies that dietary uptake of TPT from contaminated prey as well as direct uptake from surrounding water contribute to TPT body residues in the starfish. Starfish could be target organisms for monitoring TPT compound in the marine environment, due to their high accumulation and low degradation capacity towards TPT.
Shim
Won Joon
WJ
Southern Coastal Environment Research Division, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, Jangmok-myon 391, Geoje 656-830, South Korea. wjshim@kordi.re.kr
Yim
Un Hyuk
UH
Kim
Nam Sook
NS
Hong
Sang Hee
SH
Oh
Jae Ryoung
JR
Jeon
Joong Kyun
JK
Okamura
Hideo
H
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis; D047271:Asterias / Q000737:chemistry*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D017753:Ecosystem; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D007723:Korea; D008974:Mollusca / Q000737:chemistry*; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin; C030665:triphenyltin