Contamination of butyltin and phenyltin compounds in the marine environment of Otsuchi Bay, Japan

Butyltin (BT) and phenyltin (PT) compounds were measured in seawater, sediment, and biological samples collected from coastal areas of Otsuchi Bay, Japan. Tributyltin (TBT) compounds in seawater, sediment, plankton, mussels, scallops and fish were in the range of 0.008–0.074 μg liter−1, 0.01–0.64 mg (kg dry wt)−1, 0.24–9.8 mg (kg dry wt)−1, 0.04–0.18 mg (kg wet wt)−1, 0.10–0.13 mg (kg wet wt)−1 and 0.01–0.02 mg (kg wet wt)−1, respectively. Trace amount of PTs were found in seawater. The highest concentrations of TBT and triphenyltin (TPT) were found near a shipyard. Triorganotin compounds were more dominant than their metabolites. A positive correlation was observed between the concentrations of TBT and TPT in the mussels. Concentrations of TBT and TPT in mussels were high in the upper intertidal zone, and decreased toward the water.