title: In-situ partitioning of butyltin compounds in estuarine sediments.
abstract: The in-situ solid/pore-water partitioning of tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) was determined for an estuarine sediment profile collected from a commercial marina. Total butyltin levels exceeded sediment quality guideline values, and were 220-8750 microg/kg for TBT, 150-5450 microg/kg for DBT and 130-4250 microg/kg for MBT. Pore-water butyltin concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 2.35 microg/l for TBT, 0.07-3.25 microg/l for DBT, and 0.05-0.53 microg/l for MBT. The partitioning of butyltin compounds between the sediment solid-phase and pore-water was described by an organic carbon normalised distribution ratio (D(OC)). The observed D(OC) values were similar for TBT, DBT and MBT, and were 10(5)-10(6) l/kg. Values for the Butyltin Degradation Index (BDI) were larger than 1 at depths greater than 10 cm below the sediment/water-column interface. This indicates that substantial TBT degradation has occurred in the sediments, and suggests that natural attenuation may be a viable sediment remediation strategy.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan 4111, Qld, Australia. e.burton@griffith.edu.au
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Darryl W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hawker
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010150:Paint; D016062:Porosity; D011793:Queensland; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C056189:di-n-butyltin; C062120:n-butyltin; C011559:tributyltin; D002244:Carbon