Occurrence of butyltin residues in sediment and mussel tissues from the lower-most Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake, U.S.A

Surface sediments and mussel samples were collected at six selected locations in the lower-most Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake, U.S.A. and analyzed for butyltin (BT) derivatives. In sediments, total BT concentrations ranged from 6.8 to 356 ng g-1 dry wt. A wide range of concentrations in sediments suggested the presence of localized area of contamination. In mussel tissues, total BT concentrations varied between 26-107 ng g-1 dry wt. BT levels were comparable to the levels reported in mussels from some coastal sites as well as a few freshwater ecosystems. Leaching of tributyltin-containing anti-fouling paints in the ocean-going ships is a source of tributyltin, and discharge of municipal sewage and industrial waste waters in to this watershed may account for the presence of the monobutyltin and dibutyltin derivatives detected in the samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the butyltin concentrations in sediment and mussel tissues from the lower-most Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake.

Butyltin compounds in river otters (Lutra canadensis) from the northwestern United States

Butyltin compounds, including mono-, di-, and tributyltin (MBT, DBT, and TBT) were measured in livers of 40 adult river otters (Lutra canadensis) collected from rivers and coastal bays in Washington and Oregon, USA. Butyltins were found in all the river otters, at a concentration range of 8.5-2,610 ng/g, WW. The greatest concentration of total butyltins of 2,610 ng/g, WW, was found in a river otter collected in Puget Sound from Fort Ward, Washington. River otters collected near areas with major shipping activities, such as the Puget Sound, contained significantly greater concentrations (geometric mean: 367 ng/g, WW) of butyltins than those from rivers. Among butyltin compounds, MBT and DBT predominated in livers. The concentrations of butyltins in river otters ranged from comparable (Puget Sound) to less (rivers) than what was found in coastal cetaceans.

Butyltin compounds in sediment and fish from the Polish Coast of the Baltic Sea

Concentrations of mono- (MBT), di- (DBT), and tri-(TBT) butyltin compounds were measured in eggs, liver, and muscle of nine species of fish from four regions of the Baltic Sea - the Firth of Vistula, the Gulf of Gdańsk, Puck Bay, and the mouth of the Vistula River. The overall concentration ranges among all the fish sampled from the four sites were: < 7 to 79 ng/g for MBT, 6 to 1100 ng/g for DBT, 7 to 3600 ng/g for TBT, and 16 to 4800 ng/g for total BTs, on a wet wt basis. The highest concentration of total BTs was found in herring liver from the Firth of Vistula (4800 ng/g, wet wt) and in roach muscle from Puck Bay (3300 ng/g, wet wt), while the least concentration was found in burbot eggs and liver from the Vistula River (39 and 32 ng/g, wet wt, respectively). TBT was the major form of BTs present in most samples analyzed. Sediment samples collected from shipyards in the Gulf of Gdańsk contained butyltin concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 46 microg/g (dry wt) for MBT, 2.0 to 42 microg/g for DBT, and 2.6 to 40 microg/g for TBT. As with the fish, the majority of the BTs in sediment were present as TBT, which suggested recent exposure of the aquatic environment of the region to TBT.

Occurrence of butyltin compounds in tissues of water birds and seaducks from the united states and canada

Tributyltin and its breakdown products, mono- and di-butyltin, were determined in water birds collected from Lake Huron (the Great Lakes), marine coastal United States, and the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. Concentrations of butyltins in the liver of birds collected from Lake Huron were </= 27 ng/g, wet wt, whereas those from marine coastal areas contained up to 90 ng/g. Relatively higher concentrations were found in seaducks collected from coastal British Columbia, with concentrations as great as 1,100 ng/g. Mollusk-feeding seaducks seemed to accumulate greater concentrations of butyltins than predatory birds feeding on fish, other birds and small mammals. Hepatic concentration ranges of butyltins in birds from the United States and Canada were compared with those reported for the UK, Netherlands, Japan, and Poland. Exposure of birds to butyltin compounds continues to occur in harbors and marinas where TBT is used on vessels greater than 25 m in length.

Accumulation Features of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Resident and Migratory Birds from South India

Persistent organochlorines such as DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in whole-body homogenates of resident and migratory birds collected from South India. Organochlorine contamination pattern in birds varied depending on their migratory behaviour. Resident birds contained relatively greater concentrations of HCHs (14-8,800 ng/g wet wt) than DDTs and PCBs concentrations. In contrast, migrants exhibited elevated concentrations of PCBs (20-4,400 ng/g wet wt). The sex differences in concentrations and burdens of organochlorines in birds were pronounced, with females containing lower levels than males. Inland piscivores and scavengers accumulated greater concentrations of HCHs and DDTs while coastal piscivores contained comparable or greater amounts of PCBs. Global comparison of organochlorine concentrations indicated that resident birds in India had the highest residues of HCHs and moderate to high residues of DDTs. It is, therefore, proposed that migratory birds wintering in India acquire considerable amounts of HCHs and DDTs. Estimates of hazards associated with organochlorine levels in resident and migratory birds in India suggested that Pond Heron, Little Ringed Plover, and Terek Sandpiper may be at risk from exposure to DDTs.