Toxicity and speciation analysis of organotin compounds

Abstract

The use of antifouling paints in shipbuilding has led to a significant concentration of organotin compounds in the marine environment. Antifouling paints have become the main source of tributyltin and triphenyltin derivatives loaded into the sea. The toxicity of organotin compounds has been of great concern. High concentrations of organotin compounds are associated with growth abnormalities in mussels and oysters and have also resulted to the decline in their abundance. High concentration of organotin compounds have also been found in the tissues of marine mammals and its presence has been linked to mass mortalities of marine mammals. It causes imposex and calcification anomalities in mollusks. Seafood is thought to be a possible source of organotin compounds in human. Therefore, to evaluate the environmental distribution and fate of these compounds and to determine the effectives of legal provisions adopted by a number of countries, a variety of analytical methods have been developed for the speciation of organotin compounds in the environment. A detailed review of the toxicity and chemical speciation of organotin compounds is given.