Temporal Trend of Butyltins in Seawater, Sediments, and Mussels from Busan Harbor of Korea Between 2002 and 2007: Tracking the Effectiveness of Tributylin Regulation

Butyltins were determined in seawater, sediments, and mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from Busan Harbor, the largest commercial harbor in Korea, to assess the contamination status and the effectiveness of tributylin (TBT) restriction. TBT concentrations were found to be 7.6 ± 8.3 ng Sn/L in seawater, 387 ± 606 ng Sn/g dry weight (wt) in sediments, and 322 ± 167 ng Sn/g dry wt in mussels, and are comparable to those in the largest harbors worldwide. TBT levels were highest at locations near shipyards and related facilities. Busan Harbor was characterized by the long-term history of butyltin contamination, based on the lowered TBT/DBT ratios in environmental matrices. The temporal trend of TBT levels decreased significantly in seawater and mussels from 2002 to 2007, probably as a consequence of the legislative action in Korea (MOE Regulation 154/2000). However, TBT in sediments did not show any trend, suggesting a long half-life for TBT, about 17 years, in sediments.     

Tributyltin contamination and imposex in Alaska harbors

We quantified imposex in file dogwinkles (Nucella lima) and tributyltin (TBT) contamination in bay mussels (Mytilus trossulus) from 10 harbors and nearby control sites throughout Alaska. We found evidence of TBT contamination in mussels from four harbors (29–54 ng TBT/g wet tissue wt). Two of these harbors now show reduced TBT contamination relative to levels found in 1987. We were able to find and collect dogwinkles from seven sites. Of these, all three dogwinkle samples from harbor sites exhibited imposex, with 36%–87.5% females affected per site. In total, six of the 10 harbors had some evidence of TBT contamination.     

Temporal Trends (2004–2009) of Imposex in Rock Shells Thais clavigera Collected Along the Korean Coast Associated With Tributyltin Regulation in 2003 and 2008

We investigated the temporal trend in contamination of butyltin compounds (BTs) along the Korean coast using imposex and tributyltin (TBT) burden in gastropods (Thais clavigera) as a biomonitor. Thais clavigera were collected from 26 locations with different shipping activities between 2004 and 2009 after restrictions on TBT-based antifouling paints were imposed in Korea. In the present study, imposex indices and TBT tissue concentrations significantly decreased over time from 2004 to 2009, confirming the effectiveness of TBT regulation. However, imposex in 2009 samples was still found. Significantly high imposex indices and TBT tissue residues were found in large ports containing commercial and ferry services compared with small ports and background areas. Imposex indices in background areas had decreased to zero, suggesting recovery from imposex caused by BT contamination. These results suggest that recovery from TBT contamination occurs faster in areas with very low maritime activities than areas with high maritime activities.     

Contaminants of Concern in Dutch Marine Harbor Sediments

The status of the contamination of Dutch marine harbor sediments was reevaluated after a period in which emissions from point sources had been greatly reduced. Data on sediment chemistry from 1999 and 2000 were assessed against screening levels (SLs) selected from available sediment quality guidelines and representing a low probability of adverse biological effects. This yielded a ranking of the environmental hazard of 22 contaminants.Most of the sediments were silty material; every year 15 to 25 million m³ of such material is dredged from Dutch harbors. Some 34% of the volume exceeded one or more SLs. The contaminants of concern were tributyltin (TBT), mineral oil (petroleum hydrocarbons), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury. The PCB and mercury contamination is the legacy of historic inputs; the TBT and mineral oil contamination is related to present-day shipping activity. Concentrations of trace metals, rare earth elements, organochlorine pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were low and apparently of minor environmental concern. It is concluded that the risk assessment would be improved by laboratory testing of adverse biological effects.     

Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Marine Organisms from Lake Shihwa,Korea

To our knowledge, this is the first report of concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and other perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAs) in marine organisms from the industrialized region of Korea. Concentrations of eight PFAs were determined in three species of fish (mullet, shad, and rockfish) and three species of marine invertebrates (blue crab, oyster, and mussel) from Lake Shihwa, Korea. This is an area in which relatively great concentrations of PFAs in water and in adjacent industrial effluents have been reported. PFOS was the dominant PFA in marine organisms and most PFOS concentrations were greater than the sum of all other PFAs. The mean concentrations of PFOS were 8.1 × 10 and 3.6 × 10 ng/g, wet weight in liver and blood of fish, respectively. Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were also found in fish, but their concentrations were 10-fold less than those for PFOS. Of the PFCAs measured in fish, concentrations of the longer-chain perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) were the greatest. Concentrations of PFOS in soft tissues of blue crabs decreased as a function of distance from the shore where inputs from the industrialized areas are discharged into Lake Shihwa. PFOS was the only PFA detectable in mussels and oysters with a mean of 0.5 ± 0.2 and 1.1 ± 0.3 ng/g, wet weight, respectively. Concentrations of PFUnA were positively correlated with perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in both the liver and blood of fish, which suggests a common source of these two PFCAs in this area. Hazard quotients developed for fish species were all less than 1.0 for fish collected in Lake Shihwa.     

Butyltin Compounds and Imposex Levels in Ecuador

The first appraisal of butyltins (BT) contamination linked with imposex incidence in the Pacific coast of South America was performed in the current study. Imposex occurrence was analyzed in three muricid species (Thais biserialis, T. brevidentata, and T. kiosquiformis) distributed along 14 sites from the coastal areas of Ecuador. All studied muricids species showed imposex, which was observed in 11 out of 14 sites. The highest imposex levels were observed in T. kiosquiformis collected inside the Gulf of Guayaquil [relative penis length index (RPLI) 9.0–40.7], whereas RPLI values for T. biserialis and T. brevidentata ranged from 4.0 to 26.1 and 0.0 to 1.9, respectively. Additionally, BT compounds [tributyltin (TBT), dibutylin (DBT), and monobutylin (MBT)] were determined in surface sediments collected in 6 of the sites (main harbor areas), and values ranged between 12.7 and 99.5 ng Sn g⁻¹ (dry weight) for TBT, 1.8 and 54.4 ng Sn g⁻¹ for DBT, and 44 and 340 ng Sn g⁻¹ for MBT. Although BT degradation indexes suggested an aged input of TBT, the high imposex levels detected in the current study suggest that international restrictions on TBT based antifouling paints were still not effective in Ecuador. Considering that the southern coast, especially nearby harbors inside the Gulf of Guayaquil, have shown to be contaminated by BTs, a combination of T. kiosquiformis and T. biserialis (the most sensitive species) can be used for future biomonitoring of Ecuador coastal areas.     

Alteration of [14C]-Testosterone Metabolism After Chronic Exposure of Daphnia magna to Tributyltin

Tributyltin (TBT) is a marine biocide that has been shown to alter the activity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and elicit toxicity indicative of androgenization in some species. The present study was conducted to determine whether TBT altered P450-, reductase-, and transferase-mediated testosterone metabolic processes in Daphnia magna at sublethal exposure concentrations. Two generations of daphnids were continuously exposed for 21 days to nominal TBT concentrations ranging from 0.31 to 2.5 μg/L TBT. The highest TBT concentration (2.5 μg/L) was lethal to 60% of the exposed organisms. Lower TBT concentrations elicited no adverse effects on molting or reproduction of the daphnids. No differences were observed in the response of the first- and second-generation daphnids to the toxicity of TBT. The ability of daphnids to metabolize [¹⁴C]-testosterone in vivo was assessed following exposure of each generation to TBT. Production of hydroxylated, reduced/dehydrogenated, and glucose-conjugated metabolites of testosterone were all elevated following exposure of both generations to 1.25 μg/L TBT. These findings indicate that, under these conditions, TBT elicits no discernible effects on molting and reproduction of daphnids at sublethal concentrations, and testosterone metabolism is enhanced at concentrations approaching those that are lethal to organisms. Alterations of steroid metabolism by xenobiotics can be used as a more sensitive indicator of sublethal exposure in daphnids than reproductive endpoints. Received: 10 March 1997/Accepted: 27 May 1997     

Mercury Distribution and Methylmercury Mobility in the Sediments of Three Sites on the Lebanese Coast,Eastern Mediterranean

Mercury (Hg) contamination in coastal sediments has been widely studied in clay deposits; however, equivalent results on carbonated sediments are scarce. This article aims to study Hg distribution in Lebanese carbonate coastal marine sediments (Eastern Mediterranean) in order to characterize their contamination level and to explore the postdepositional mobility of methylmercury (MeHg) in the deposits. Vertical distribution profiles of total (HgT) and MeHg have been established for the solid phase of sediment cores collected in various near-shore environments chosen for their hypothetical various degrees of anthropization. In addition, dissolved MeHg was determined in sediment pore waters to test its mobility and potential availability for biota. Three sites on the Lebanese coasts—Akkar, Dora, and Selaata—were selected. Akkar is far from any direct contamination source, whereas Dora, located near the Beirut harbor, is a heavily urbanized and industrialized zone including a huge dump site, and Selaata is near a chemical plant that produces phosphate fertilizers. Particulate HgT concentrations in the sediments varied between <0.04 and 0.65 μg/g, with a proportion of MeHg lower than 1%. Based on a sediment quality guideline (MacDonald et al. 2000), we concluded that Dora bay sediments are heavily contaminated by Hg, with concentrations exceeding the “consensus-based threshold effect” level (0.17 μg/g) and almost reaching the “effects range-medium” level (0.71 μg/g). In spite of the low HgT concentration in Akkar and Selaata sediment (similar to natural carbonated sediment: 0.04 μg/g according to Turekian and Wedephol (1961), a closer analysis of the sediment core vertical profile allows one to observe an anthropogenic impact. This impact might be toxicologically insignificant; however, it allows tracing the time increase of Hg diffuse deposition. On the other hand, dissolved MeHg concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.09 and from 0.04 to 8.76 ng/l in the Selaata and the Dora sediments, respectively; MeHg vertical profiles in interstitial water enabled us to calculate diffusive fluxes of MeHg from the sediment varying from 0.3 to 1.0 ng/m²/day. Thus, the deposited sediments constitute a measurable source of bioavailable Hg for epibenthic organisms.     

Long-Term Changes in Imposex Frequency in File Dogwinkles, Nucella lima G., and Tributyltin Concentrations in Bay Mussels, Mytilus trossulus G.

We quantified imposex in file dogwinkles (Nucella lima) and tributyltin (TBT) contamination in bay mussels (Mytilus trossulus) from a number of sites in Auke Bay, Alaska, previously studied in the late 1980s. Imposex occurence and TBT contamination have generally declined in spatial extent and severity over time. However, high levels of TBT contamination (0.069 μg TBT/g wet tissue wt.) and imposex (100% of females affected) are still present near a large boat docking facility in the bay and deserve continued attention because of the importance of this bay to the local economy and fisheries.     

Butyltin Species in Benthic and Pelagic Organisms of the Saguenay Fjord (Canada) and Imposex Occurrence in Common Whelk (Buccinum undatum)

The distribution and accumulation of butyltins in various tissues of 13 benthic and pelagic species living in the sub-Arctic Saguenay Fjord (Canada) were investigated. Butyltin contamination was ubiquitous in this ecosystem with tributyltin (TBT) biota to sediment accumulation factors (BSAF) ranging between 0.22 and 11, but without any important biomagnification between trophic levels. The large range of butyltin compounds accumulating within different tissues of the species collected from all trophic levels was from 7 to 1238 ng Sn g⁻¹ d.w. and indicates an exceptional contamination level only found in northern coastal areas exposed to an intensive traffic of commercial ships. Results show that bioaccumulation in organisms depends on three main factors: (1) the actual contamination level in their habitat, (2) their assimilation pathway by water, sediment or diet, and (3) their ability to metabolize TBT and excrete metabolites. By their lack of an efficient TBT degradation system, bivalves are subject to accumulate more butyltins (from 890 to 993 ng Sn g⁻¹ d.w. for TBT and from n.d to 138 ng Sn g⁻¹ d.w. for metabolites) whereas most burrow-dwelling organisms are able to degrade TBT and their butyltin levels ranged from 86 to 239 ng Sn g⁻¹ d.w. for TBT and from 7 to 106 ng Sn g⁻¹ d.w. for metabolites. Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus) feeding preferentially on shrimps and small crustaceans rich in TBT showed a contamination level about three times higher than eelpout (Licodes vahlii). The latter species living in contact with the sediment and feeding on worms and other burrowing species had a lower proportion of TBT in their tissues. Finally, deleterious effects of butyltins in the Saguenay Fjord were assessed by the significant occurrence of Imposex in common whelk (Bucinum undatum) in two sites from Baie des Ha! Ha!. Results revealed that the effects of Imposex were accentuated close to the source of contamination, at Port-Alfred harbour, since the total of imposexed whelks collected at site A (the mouth of Baie des Ha! Ha!) was 12.5% and reached 52.6% at site B (Port Alfred). Although the incidence or frequency of imposex was low in site A compared to site B, the relative penile length index (RPL) values, a measure of the degree or severity of imposex, was similar at both sites indicating the presence of TBT with higher concentrations in site B.     

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in 0+ Juvenile Cyprinids and Sediments of the Po River

PBDE and PCB content has been determined in 0+ bleak (Cyprinus alburnus), nase (Chondrostoma soetta), gudgeon (Cyprinus gobio), chub (Cyprinus cephalus), and barbel (Barbus sp.) as well as in bed sediments sampled from the River Po upstream and downstream of the confluence of a tributary draining a highly industrialized and urbanized subbasin. Both groups of chemicals were present at higher levels in fish and sediments downstream from the confluence. In addition, whole-body concentrations of PBDEs and PCBs were different among species despite the young specimen age. The fact that PBDEs and PCBs were higher in benthivorous versus planktivorous fish, as well as in carnivorous versus herbivorous species, suggests that feeding behavior is a major controlling factor that may help differentiate the accumulation levels of 0+ juveniles. Of the five species, the pelagic/planktivorous cyprinid bleak (C. alburnus) showed the lowest concentrations (111 ng PBDE/g lipid weight [l.w.], 2016 ng PCB/g l.w.), whereas the benthic dweller and feeder barbel (Barbus sp.) had the highest concentrations of both groups of chemicals (259 ng PBDE/g l.w., 4785 ng PCB/g l.w.). The rank order of species contamination was essentially stable upstream and downstream from the tributary, and the congener contribution of PBDEs was also similar. In general, BDE-47 was the dominant congener, followed by BDE-100, -154, -153, and -28. BDE-209 dominated the PBDE congener profiles of sediments but was not found in any fish sample. Conversely, an unidentified hexa-BDE congener, which was not detected in sediments, was found in all fish species. The levels of PBDEs and PCBs determined in adult goby (Padogobius martensii), a small demersal predator also examined in the same river stretches, provided additional useful insights with which to interpret results.     

Distribution and Specific Bioaccumulation of Butyltin Compounds in a Marine Ecosystem

Butyltin compounds (BTs), including tributyltin (TBT) and its breakdown products, di- (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), were determined in sea water, sediment, and biota at various trophic levels in the food chain collected from Otsuchi Bay, Japan, for understanding distribution and bioaccumulation of BTs in natural marine ecosystems. BT residues were detected in all the compartments analyzed, although their concentrations appeared to be less than those in polluted areas. Concentrations of BTs in sea water were higher in locations near Otsuchi Port, indicating that maritime activities in the harbor has been a major source of BTs in this bay. A specific peak in BT residue levels was found in sediment cores at an estimated depth that dated to be from the 1980s. Lack of significant variation in the composition of BTs at different depths of cores suggests slow degradation rate of these compounds in sediments. BTs were accumulated in plankton and other organisms up to ∼70,000 times higher than in sea water. However, no considerable biomagnification was observed for BTs through the food chain. Relatively high concentrations were found in caprellids and smaller fish, such as gunnels. These organisms accumulated TBT as the predominant compound among BT derivatives and showed higher bioconcentration factors for TBT than in other species reported so far. Our results suggest that certain organisms in the food chain may have a less capacity to degrade TBT, and therefore may accumulate BTs at elevated levels. Received: 10 July 1998/Accepted: 26 January 1999     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contamination of Recent Sediments and Marine Organisms from Xiamen Bay, China

Surface marine sediments from 12 sites within Xiamen Bay (XMB) and marine organisms (clam, crab, and fish) from a heavily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated site at Yuandang Lagoon were sampled and analyzed for 16 priority PAH content by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The total PAH concentrations in sediments ranged from 203.7 to 1590.5 ng/g, with an average value of 670.0 ng/g. Overall, the total PAH concentrations were relatively lower in the east coastal zone and significantly higher in Yuandang Lagoon. These concentrations were intermediate in comparison with those observed in other estuaries in China. The sources of PAH inputs to sediments in XMB were quantitatively determined by principal components analysis with multiple linear regression. The results showed that, on average, vehicle emissions, petroleum spills, and coal combustion contributed to 41, 36, and 23% of the total PAHs, respectively. Analysis of the PAH composition pattern in marine organisms showed that the total PAHs levels of fishes were lower than those of the clam and crab. The PAH burden of the crab and calm was characterized by the non-negligible occurrence of high-molecular-weight compounds, whereas the fish PAH pattern was dominated by the lower-molecular-weight compounds. In addition, the carcinogenic PAH benzo[a]pyrene was detected in all samples. Molecular indices based on isomeric PAH ratios differentiated the uptake pathway among organisms. The water soluble matter and the petroleum seemed to be the most favorable uptake pathway in fish from Yuandang Lagoon, whereas the crab and clam shared a mix uptake by the water-soluble and the particulate matter.     

Cu and Zn Concentrations in Seawater and Marine Sediments Along Korean Coasts from the Perspective of Antifouling Agents

Concentrations were measured three times from 2006 to 2013 at major harbors and marine areas along the Korean coast. The Cu concentration in seawater and sediments increased, while the Zn concentration first decreased and then increased. The pattern of increase in Cu concentration with time was consistent with the increased total tonnage of ships moored at the sampling area and with the increased discharge of organic antifouling agents. To confirm the relationship between seawater and marine sediments in heavy metal pollution, all data were arrayed and compared depending on concentrations. The results revealed that the slope of Cu between seawater and marine sediment rapidly decreased, attributed to the increase in the application of copper-based antifouling agents to vessels after the ban on the use of tributyltin in 2008, rather than the contamination caused by industrial areas.     

Rock-Shells (Thais clavigera) as an Indicator of As, Cu, and Zn Contamination on the Putai Coast of the Black-Foot Disease Area in Taiwan

This study presents the distribution of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in various seafoods—oysters (Crassostrea gigas), false fusus (Hemifuscus tuba), venus clams (Cyclina sineasis), green mussels (Perna viridis), blood clams (Arca granosa), flounders (Psettodes erumei), and rock-shells (Thais clavigera) collected from the Putai coast of the black-foot disease (BFD) area in Taiwan. Special attention is paid to evaluate the relationships among As, Cu, and Zn and effect of body size on metal concentration in Thais clavigera. Maximum Zn and Cu geometric mean (GM) concentrations (GM = 615 and 376 μg/g, dry wt, respectively) are found in oysters (Crassostrea gigas), and the values are much higher than those of the other organisms by about 1.7–208 and 1.8–375 times, respectively. Similarly, Thais clavigera has a high capacity for accumulating Cu and Zn collected from the same location. One interesting point is that relatively high As concentrations (GM = 65.7 μg/g, dry wt) in Thais clavigera are found as compared with those in other organisms (range from GM = 2.37 to 40.2 μg/g, dry wt). The As concentrations are significantly higher in Thais clavigera (1.62–27.7 times) than those in other organisms (p < 0.05), except for the false fusus (Hamifuscus tuba). A linear regression analysis shows a significant increase in Zn concentration with increasing Cu concentration in Thais clavigera. On the other hand, the As concentration is correlated with Cu and Zn concentrations (r = 0.77 and 0.77, respectively; p < 0.05) in Thais clavigera. Double logarithmic plots of metal content and concentration against dry-body weight and shell length show linear relationships. The result indicates that large individuals have higher contents of Cu, Zn and As, and have slopes of 1.58, 1.38, and 1.34, respectively. In addition, metal concentrations against shell length for all animal sizes also indicate that Cu, Zn and As have slopes of 1.92, 1.18, and 1.11, respectively. In conclusion, Thais clavigera has a high capactiy for accumulating As, Cu, and Zn and is a potential bioindicator for monitoring As, Cu and Zn. Received: 8 February 1996/Revised: 15 June 1996     

Congener-specific characterization and sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in marine sediments from industrialized bays of Korea

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs) were determined in 122 coastal sediments from heavily industrialized areas in Korea. Toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations of PCDD and PCDF (PCDD/F) and DLPCB ranged from 0.44 to 38.5 pg/g dry weight and from 0.01 to 38.4 pg/ g dry weight, respectively. Overall PCDD/F and DLPCB concentrations were elevated in estuarine and inner bay locations close to industrial complexes, indicating that these contaminants derived from local discharges. Concentrations of PCDD/F measured in the present study were comparable to those in industrialized areas of other countries. Nonparametric multidimensional scaling ordination and congener-specific characterization showed that combustion processes occurring in industrial complexes, including the steel industry, are the major source of PCDD/Fs in Korean coastal waters. There were no significant correlations among PCDD/ Fs, DLPCBs, and total organic carbon; however, there was moderate correlation between PCDD/Fs and DLPCBs in some coastal bays, suggesting that these chemicals have similar sources and movements in these locations.     

HCH and DDT in Sediments from Marine and Adjacent Riverine Areas of North Bohai Sea, China

Residues of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and their environmental risks in surface sediments collected from marine and adjacent riverine/estuarine areas in the northern Bohai Sea, China, were investigated. Concentrations of ΣHCH and ΣDDT in sediments ranged from below detection (<LOD) to 1964.97 ng g⁻¹ dry wt (dw; mean, 92.51 ng g⁻¹ dw) and <LOD to 86.46 ng g⁻¹ dw (mean, 9.23 ng g⁻¹ dw), respectively. Concentrations of HCH and DDT were generally higher in marine than riverine sediments. Concentrations of HCH and DDT residues found in the present study were higher than those reported in marine and river/estuary sediments from other areas of the world. The source of HCH in sediments could be explained by the large amount of historical use, while DDT seemed to be a combination of erosion of the weathered soils and long-range atmospheric transport. Concentrations of HCH in sediments from the study areas did not exceed sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), with the exception of γ-HCH. However, risks posed by concentrations of DDT observed in sediments were found to be moderate to high compared with those posed by consensus-based SQGs. Although the mean sedimentary concentrations of HCH and DDT found in the area of the northern Bohai Sea, China were lower than suggested SQGs in general, their concentrations in some locations were close to or above the SQGs for adverse effects in benthic organisms and, thus, remain a cause for concern.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contamination in South Carolina Salt Marsh-Tidal Creek Systems: Relationships Among Sediments,Biota, and Watershed Land Use

Sediments and biota from 11 tidal creeks were sampled and classified into forested, suburban, and urban/industrial watershed land-use categories. Total PAH levels (∑PAH₁₆) in sediments were significantly higher in urban/industrialized creeks (5,795 ± 1,173 ng/g) compared to suburban (793 ± 131 ng/g) and forested (238 ± 34 ng/g) creeks. No differences in ∑PAH₁₆ levels among land-use classifications were found for either oligochaetes (Monopylephorus rubroniveus) or grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio). However, ∑PAH₁₆ levels in grass shrimp were related to sediment ∑PAH₁₆ levels and ∑PAH₁₆ levels in oligochaetes and grass shrimp eggs were related to impervious cover in the watershed. Diagnostic ratios suggest that the primary sources of PAH in suburban and urban/industrialized creeks are pyrogenic. Carcinogenic PAH contents of sediments and biota were related to impervious cover. While human exposures to these sediment-associated carcinogens were not assessed, levels of several carcinogenic PAHs in sediments of urban/industrial tidal creeks were above the levels that represent an increased cancer risk in humans.     

Butyl and Phenyl Tin Compounds in Fish and Shellfish on the Korean Market

The degree of organotin contamination was determined in samples of ten species of fish and shellfish that were representative of the Korean fish market. Shellfish and fish samples were collected in the fish markets of eight big cities in Korea (Gangneung, Ulsan, Pusan, Daegu, Guangju, Daejun, Incheon and Seoul). The edible portion of total 160 samples were analyzed for organotin compounds such as monobutltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT), monophenyltin (MPT), diphenyltin (DPT) and TPT (triphenyltin) by GC-MSD SIM mode after propylation and Florisil clean-up. Generally organotin levels of fish were higher than shellfish. The highest concentration of TBT was found in mackerel (average 67.02 ng/g-wet wt.) among fish and shellfish. TBT usually accounted higher percentage than that of MBT and DBT in most samples. However, the average concentration order of PTs in the tested samples was MPT > TPT > DPT except saury.     

Horizontal and vertical distribution of butyltin compounds in sediments from shipyards in Korea

Butyltin compounds were quantitatively determined in surface sediment and sediment core samples near shipyards in the south coast of Korea, which is one of the major ship building industries in the world. Tributyltin (TBT) concentrations reached up to 46,100 ng Sn/g on a dry-weight basis at the front of the shipyard. Horizontal distribution of butyltin compounds was closely related to dry-docking activities. Butyltin concentrations were relatively low where remote from the sources. The vertical distribution of TBT in sediment cores showed active use of TBT in Korean peninsula for the past decades. The increase of TBT concentrations in sediment core according to estimated sediment age demonstrated a positive correlation with the increase of gross tonnage of ships built in the shipyard for 20 years. High TBT residue levels in sediment core samples raise concerns over persistence of the compound in the marine environment. Received: 2 August 2001/Accepted: 25 March 2002