A weight-of-evidence approach to assessing the ecological impact of organotin pollution in Dutch marine and brackish waters; combining risk prognosis and field monitoring using common periwinkles (Littorina littorea)

Sediments in the Tema Harbour (Ghana): chemical pollution and sedimentation rates

“…TBT is notorious for imposex, a condition where females of certain species of whelk and gastropod develop male organs (Clark, 2001;Schipper et al, 2008), resulting in a decline in whelk and gastropod population (Ten Hallers-Tjabbes et al, 1994;Champ and Seligman, 1996;Mensink et al, 1996a, b;Schipper et al, 2008). These chemical pollutants are persistent and bioaccumulative with the potential to be transferred along the food chain (Chau, 2005;Nyarko et al, 2011a;Romano et al, 2013).…”

“…The source of TBT in the marine environment is the use of TBT-based paints for coating of marine crafts and docks in harbours to control biofouling (Williams, 1996;Schipper et al, 2008;Nyarko et al, 2011a;. Thus, commercial ports, dockyards and marinas are potential ‗hot-spots' of TBT pollution.…”

“…The major advantage of whole-sediment toxicity bioassays over the RHI, SQG, TEQ and RAC approaches is that they integrate the toxic effects of all contaminants present in a sediment sample Escher et al, 2008) and provide a further line of evidence of the potential ecotoxicological effects of contaminated sediments Morales-Caselles et al, 2008;Schipper et al, 2008;Morales-Caselles et al, 2009). …”

“…These endpoints include acute effects such as mortality, sub-lethal and/or chronic effects such as growth and reproduction or bioaccumulation Morales-Caselles et al, 2008;Schipper et al, 2008). The bioaccumulation assessment is intended to give an indication of the bioavailability of sediment-associated chemical contaminants and their potential for transfer along the food chain Beg and Ali, 2008;Libralato et al, 2008;MoralesCaselles et al, 2007MoralesCaselles et al, , 2009Ghirardini et al, 2009;Baran andTarnawski, 2013 Amphipod Casado-Martinez et al, 2007;van den Morales-Caselles et al, 2007;de-la-OssaCarretero et al, 2012;Hanna et al, 2013.…”

“…The bioaccumulation assessment is intended to give an indication of the bioavailability of sediment-associated chemical contaminants and their potential for transfer along the food chain Beg and Ali, 2008;Libralato et al, 2008;MoralesCaselles et al, 2007MoralesCaselles et al, , 2009Ghirardini et al, 2009;Baran andTarnawski, 2013 Amphipod Casado-Martinez et al, 2007;van den Morales-Caselles et al, 2007;de-la-OssaCarretero et al, 2012;Hanna et al, 2013. Algae Oehlmann, 2002Mariño-Balsa et al, 2003;Chen et al, 2009 Sea urchin Stronkhorst et al, 1999;Schipper et al, 2008;Pagano et al, 2017a, b. Molluscs Oehlmann, 2002Mariño-Balsa et al, 2003 Polychaetes Thain andBifield, 2002;Kalman et al, 2012 Among the various test organisms, the amphipod Corophium volutator Morales-Caselles et al, 2007; and the polychaete Hediste diversicolor have gained popularity. The popularity of C. volutator ( Fig.…”