Organotin Compounds in Water, Sediment, and Biological Samples from the Port of Osaka, Japan

Abstract.

Butyltin (Bts) and phenyltin compounds (Pts) were measured in water, sediment, plankton, and mussels collected from eight stations in the harbor area of the Port of Osaka in 1996, and were compared with those of Otsuchi Bay. The levels of tributyltin (TBT) compounds in all samples from the Port of Osaka were slightly high in marinas and mooring areas of small and medium-hull vessels. Of total Bts, the ratio of TBT was under 50% in water and was dominant in sediment, plankton, and mussels. Triphenyltin (TPT) compounds in water were not detected. TPT was present at lower levels than TBT in sediment, plankton, and mussels. Of total Pts, monophenyltin (MPT) compounds and diphenyltin (DPT) compounds represented a high proportion in sediment, while TPT was dominant in plankton and mussels. The concentrations of TBT in water from the Port of Osaka were lower than those from Otsuchi Bay, however TBT concentrations in sediment, plankton, and mussels from the Port of Osaka were higher than those from Otsuchi Bay. The difference of TBT concentration among stations in the Port of Osaka was slight. In contrast, the levels of TBT in Otsuchi Bay were markedly higher at a station near the shipyard. Though TPT in water from the Port of Osaka was not detected, trace amounts of TPT was found in seawater from Otsuchi Bay. The levels and detected frequencies of TPT in sediment, plankton, and mussels from the Port of Osaka were lower than in those from Otsuchi Bay. The partition coefficients of Bts to sediment, plankton, and mussels from the Port of Osaka were higher than those of dibutyltin (DBT) compounds and MBT and those of TBT to plankton and mussels were higher than those in sediment. The partition coefficients of TBT to sediment and biological samples from the Port of Osaka were higher level than those in Otsuchi Bay.