Assessment of tributyltin contamination in a shipyard area using a mussel transplantation approach.
Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were transplanted to seven stations around a large shipyard for 126 days to evaluate tributyltin (TBT) contamination. Although the application of TBT-based paints to ships is totally banned in Korea, butyltin compounds were found to accumulate in mussels following transplantation. Concentrations of TBT and total butyltins in transplanted mussels near the shipyard were in the range of 40-350 ng Sn/g and 74-530 ng Sn/g on a dry weight basis, respectively. Obviously, low TBT concentrations (6.0-53 ng Sn/gdw) were determined in mussels at four stations outside the shipyard. A negative gradient of TBT concentrations and TBT portion to total butyltin concentrations were found in both the surface water and transplanted mussels according to distance from the shipyard. In addition, TBT concentrations in surface water and transplanted mussels showed significant correlation (r(2) = 0.71; p < 0.001). These results indicate that the shipyard still releases fresh TBT into surrounding waters even after TBT regulation in Korea, and mussel transplantation is useful in evaluating TBT contamination in shipyard area.
Marine Environmental Risk Assessment Research Division, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, 391 Jangmok-myon, Geoje-shi 656-834, Republic of Korea.
Nam Sook
NS
Kim
Won Joon
WJ
Shim
Un Hyuk
UH
Yim
Sung Yong
SY
Ha
Pan Soo
PS
Park
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007723:Korea; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D012767:Ships; D013997:Time Factors; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin