Levels of TBT and other selected organotin compounds in duplicate diet samples.
Organotin compounds (OTs) are ubiquitous contaminants with a broad range of applications ranging from biocides and pesticides to catalysts for the production of polyurethane foams and silicones. The deleterious effects of some OTs (particularly tributyltin - TBT) upon wildlife and experimental animals are well documented and include endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity and metabolic dysfunction in which obesity is included. However, virtually no data on the current human exposure levels is available. In order to bridge this gap, we quantified for the first time the levels of OTs in duplicate diet samples from members of the University of Aveiro in Portugal. OTs were detected in 32% of the 28 diet samples analyzed, at relatively low levels. TBT and monobutyltin were detected only in two samples and dibutyltin was detectable in three samples. Dioctyltin was quantified in four samples and monooctyltin in three samples. Phenyltins were below the detection limit in all the diet samples analyzed. Overall, for the vast majority of the samples (89%), the estimated daily intakes (EDI) of organotins through food were much lower than the established tolerable daily intakes (TDI). Hence, for the majority of the participants the risk associated with food ingestion is low.
Department of Biology & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS), University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: anasousa@ua.pt.
Ana C A
ACA
Sousa
Department of Biology & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan. Electronic address: sdcoelho@ua.pt.
Sónia D
SD
Coelho
Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS), University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: rpastorinho@fcsaude.ubi.pt.
M Ramiro
MR
Pastorinho
Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS), University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; Department of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Cova da Beira Hospital, 6200-251 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: tabordabarata@fcsaude.ubi.pt.
Luís
L
Taborda-Barata
Department of Biology & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: antonio.nogueira@ua.pt.
António J A
AJA
Nogueira
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; Center for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. Electronic address: isobe.tomohiko@nies.go.jp.
Tomohiko
T
Isobe
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan. Electronic address: kunisue.tatsuya.ew@ehime-u.ac.jp.
Tatsuya
T
Kunisue
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan; Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan. Electronic address: takahashi.shin.mu@ehime-u.ac.jp.
Shin
S
Takahashi
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan. Electronic address: shinsuke@agr.ehime-u.ac.jp.
Shinsuke
S
Tanabe
D004032:Diet; D000074341:Dietary Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D011174:Portugal; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds
Dietary intake; Food; Obesogen; Portugal; TBT; Tolerable daily intake