Laboratory and field investigations on the effects of organotin (tributyltin) on the oyster, Ostrea edulis

Specimens of Ostrea edults collected from coastal sites exposed to antifouling tributyltin (TBT) were found to exhibit shell thickening as indicated by a particular shell thickness index. It is suggested that this effect was qualitatively different from that reported for other bivalves and known to be specifically caused by TBT. Nonetheless, laboratory exposure experiments showed that nominal levels of 10 ng/l of TBT in seawater significantly reduce digestive cell volume in this species, and this may lead to reduced somatic growth and thus to shell abnormalities in this species.