Contamination and specific accumulation of organochlorine and butyltin compounds in deep-sea organisms collected from Suruga Bay, Japan

Organochlorine (OC) and butyltin (BT) residues were detected in deep-sea and shallow water organisms collected from Suruga Bay, Japan. Among OCs, residue levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were highest in deep-sea organisms with up to 2800 ng/g lipid wt. Total butyltin (∑BT) concentrations in deep-sea organisms were found to be 980 ng/g wet wt. at maximum levels. Residue levels of OCs in both deep-sea and shallow water organisms from Suruga Bay were lower than those in industrialized areas like Tokyo Bay, whereas residue levels of BTs were comparable or higher. These facts clearly indicate the expansion of BT pollution in deep-sea ecosystems. The deep-sea organisms showed no consistent trend between OC concentrations and prey–predator relationships, while the accumulative pattern of BTs appeared to be influenced by food-chain magnification and feeding habits of the organisms. OC compositions in deep-sea organisms showed a higher ratio of p,p′-DDE, trans-nonachlor and β-HCH among their related compounds and isomers. Whereas TBT (tributyltin) as a parent compound of BT was predominant in deep-sea organisms, suggesting a fresh input of TBT into the deep-sea environment.