The distribution and potential toxic effects of TBT in UK estuaries during 1986

Abstract

Abstract The concentrations of butyltin compounds in seawater were measured at nine sites in the UK during 1986. In popular yachting centres concentrations of tributyltin (TBT) ranged from less than detectable ( < 1 ng dm −3 ) in the winter, up to 1500 ng dm −3 in marinas in the summer. Measurements of wastewater generated by high‐pressure hosing of yachts demonstrated that even higher environmental concentrations of TBT resulted from the procedure. The results of the monitoring programme are discssed in relation to the toxicity of TBT and recent government legislative actions.