title: Butyltin contamination in Northern Chilean coast: Is there a potential risk for consumers?
abstract: Imposex is the superimposition of non-functional male sex organs in gastropod females. This syndrome is a hormonal imbalance induced by tributyltin (TBT) which have been used in antifouling paints formulation. The present study aimed to perform an integrated environmental assessment of imposex and butyltin (BT) contamination using surface sediments and tissues of Thaisella chocolata (an edible gastropod) from northern Chile. The results showed imposex incidence in 11 out of 12 sites. In the most contaminated sites, which are areas under the influence of maritime activities, and also used for fishing and aquaculture, RPLI were over 60 and VDSI over 4 (high incidence of sterile females). Exceptionally high contamination levels and evidences of fresh inputs of tributyltin (TBT) were detected along the studied area. TBT levels above 300 and 90ngSng-1, respectively, were recorded in sediments and edible gastropod tissues of 6 sites. Thus, a daily ingestion of 90 to 173g of T. chocolata foot (4 to 8 organisms) from the most contaminated sites will certainly lead to the consumption of BT exceeding the tolerable daily intake recommended by European Food Safety Authority. It is reasonable to consider that human risk is even higher if daily consumption of additional seafood is considered. Moreover, some contaminated sites were located within the marine reserve "Isla Grande Atacama", indicating that even marine protected areas are under the influence of TBT contamination. These findings suggest that current levels of TBT in the studied area are sufficient to induce harmful effects on the environment and constitutes a potential threat to seafood consumers. Thus, national regulatory actions toward environmental protection and food safety of local populations are still mandatory, even after 8years of the TBT global ban by IMO.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.
authors.forename: Yasna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.
authors.forename: Wolfgang B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Stotz
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.
authors.forename: María Soledad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Pontifícia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av. Brasil 2950, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fillmann
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, Av. Almirante Saldanha da Gama, 89, Santos, SP 11030-400, Brazil. Electronic address: ibcastro@unifesp.br.
authors.forename: Ítalo B
authors.initials: ÍB
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002677:Chile; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D010150:Paint / Q000633:toxicity; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Antifouling; Contamination; Gastropod; Intake; Seafood; Tributyltin