Tissue distribution and depuration of tributyltin for field-exposed Mytilus edulis

The disposition of tributyltin (TBT) within Mytilus edulis tissues and the depuration of TBT from various organs was determined for field populations of animals chronically exposed to environmental sources of TBT. Analysis of dissected organs demonstrated that TBT accumulated to the greatest extent in gill tissue, with TBT concentrations approximately twice that of whole-animal homogenates. A transplant study showed that the depuration of TBT from gill tissue and digestive gland tissue is a biphasic two-compartment process involving a rapid TBT loss process and a concurrent slower TBT depuration process. Whole-body and gonadal tissue depuration followed a slower monophasic depuration process. Depuration half life values ranged from 2.2–5.3 d for the fast depuration component and 28–69 d for the slow component.