title: Baseline of the butyltin distribution in surface sediments (0-20 cm) of the Elbe estuary (Germany, 2011).
abstract: The concentrations of the butyltin (BT) species tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT), and monobutyltin (MBT) were measured in the surface sediments (0-20 cm) at 29 sites of the Elbe estuary in 2011. TBT values ranged from 'undetectable' to 41 ng Sn g(-1) dry weight (d.w.) with the two highest values measured in the inner section of the estuary near the port of Hamburg (32 and 41 ng Sn g(-1) d.w.). TBT, DBT, and MBT showed significant decreases towards the estuarine mouth (Spearman's rho -0.660, -0.685, and -0.583, respectively, p<0.001). The degradation of TBT, assessed by the BT degradation index (BDI), showed a rising trend from the port of Hamburg towards the mouth of the estuary, though not a significant one (Spearman's correlation, p=0.066). Annual sedimentation rates did not show any significant correlations (Spearman's correlation) to BT pollution or to the butyltin degradation index (BDI).
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology, German Federal Institute of Hydrology - BfG, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany; Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Universitätsstrasse 1, 56070 Koblenz, Germany. Electronic address: markus.wetzel@bafg.de.
authors.forename: Markus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wetzel
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winterscheid
authors.forename: Dierk-Steffen
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wahrendorf
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D005858:Germany; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Butyltin degradation index; Dibutyltin; Monobutyltin; Sediment contamination; Spatial patterns; Tributyltin