Determination of organotin compounds in the foodweb of a shallow freshwater lake in The Netherlands

Abstract

An extensive study on the presence of nine organotin compounds (OTs) in a freshwater foodweb was made, using newly developed analytical procedures in order to obtain insight in accumulation and degradation processes. Tributyltin (TBT), Triphenyltin (TPT) and their degradation products were detected. Zebra mussels, eel, roach, bream, pike, perch, and pike perch and cormorant showed high OT body concentrations. At the lower trophic levels, phenyltin concentrations were higher in benthic species while butyltin concentrations were higher in pelagic species. This indicates that TBT is passed on primarily via the water, while TPT is passed on to a larger extent via the sediment. At the higher trophic levels, net bioaccumulation of TPT was greater than that of TBT, resulting in relatively higher TPT concentrations. High concentrations of biodegradation products of TBT, but not of TPT, were found in the livers of fish and birds, which indicates that TBT is more easily metabolized than TPT. A comparison with literature data of fish lethal body concentrations revealed that fish in the field may be endangered. With birds, the highest concentrations of OTs were present in liver and kidney and not in subcutaneous fat, which confirms that OTs accumulate via different mechanisms than traditional lipophilic compounds. As a whole the OT concentrations found in the foodweb may be considered to be quite alarming.

Levels of Organotin Compounds in Burbot (Lota Lota) from Norwegian Lakes

“…The organotin levels found in burbot muscle tissue are lower than those reported in eel and pike muscle tissue from fresh water systems in the Netherlands [5] and Canada [17] respectively, Table 5. Levels in eel liver from The Netherlands range from 13 -1 051 ng Sn/g d.w. of the butyltin species and from 2 -1700 ng Sn/g d.w. of the phenyltin species [5].…”

“…These results show that other sources of contamination must be taken into account when investigating fresh water systems than those considered important in marine systems. It has been reported that triphenyltin is passed on to benthic organisms primarily via sediments [5] and as burbot is a benthivorous species, this may also contribute to the elevated levels reported.…”

“…Levels in eel liver from The Netherlands range from 13 -1 051 ng Sn/g d.w. of the butyltin species and from 2 -1700 ng Sn/g d.w. of the phenyltin species [5]. The present levels of triphenyltin estimated in burbot liver, given in Table 2, are in n.a.…”

“…High levels of several organotin compounds have been determined in freshwater species such as zebra mussels, eel, roach, pike, and perch in The Netherlands [5] and in zebra mussels in Switzerland [6]. Until now little is known on the levels of contamination of organotin compounds in Norwegian fresh water fish.…”

Effects of tin(IV) chloride and of organotin compounds on aquatic micro‐organisms

“…The presence of organotin compounds and of their degradation products in sea [8][9][10][11][12] in fresh-water bodies 13 and in sediments [14][15][16] has recently attracted much attention also, because of their detrimental effects on aquatic organisms, especially bivalve and gasteropods molluscs, 17 fish and birds. 18 In particular, tributyltin (TBT) compounds are present in antifouling paints as active ingredients and continue to pose a major ecotoxicological threat; 19 apart from imposex and growth-related effects of TBT on molluscs, there are other concerns such as contamination of fish products resulting in contamination of human food. 20,21 As a result of the uptake of these compounds into the human body, TBT has been determined in biological samples, 22,23 including human hair.…”