Effects of Organotins on Crustaceans: Update and Perspectives

Abstract

Organotins (OTs) are considered some of the most toxic chemicals introduced into aquatic environments by anthropogenic activities. They are widely used for agricultural and industrial purposes and as antifouling additives on boat hull’s paints. Even though the use of OTs was banned in 2008, elevated levels of OTs can still be detected in aquatic environments. OTs’ deleterious effects upon wildlife and experimental animals are well documented and include endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and metabolic dysfunction. Crustaceans are key members of zooplankton and benthic communities and have vital roles in food chains, so the endocrine-disrupting effects of tributyltin (TBT) on crustaceans can affect other organisms. TBT can disrupt carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis of crustaceans by interacting with retinoid X receptor (RXR) and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) signaling. Moreover, it can also interact with other nuclear receptors, disrupting methyl farnesoate and ecdysteroid signaling, thereby altering growth and sexual maturity, respectively. This compound also interferes in cytochrome P450 system disrupting steroid synthesis and reproduction. Crustaceans are also important fisheries worldwide, and its consumption can pose risks to human health. However, some questions remain unanswered. This mini review aims to update information about the effects of OTs on the metabolism, growth, and reproduction of crustaceans; to compare with known effects in mammals; and to point aspects that still needs to be addressed in future studies. Since both macrocrustaceans and microcrustaceans are good models to study the effects of sublethal TBT contamination, novel studies should be developed using multibiomarkers and omics technology.

An Orthologue of the Retinoic Acid Receptor (RAR) Is Present in the Ecdysozoa Phylum Priapulida

“…For instance, of the various Ecdysozoa groups, only three (Insecta, Crustacea and Nematoda) have been thoroughly examined from an endocrinology standpoint [32]. Moreover, several aquatic pollutants have been reported to retard growth and moulting and influence mortality in crustaceans [61][62][63] and to affect growth, reproduction, life span and gene expression in nematodes [64,65]. Importantly, one of the clearest examples of endocrine disruption -imposex development in gastropods upon exposure to organotins, was shown to result from a specific interaction with the highly conserved NR RXR [66][67][68].…”

Assessing the Efficacy of a Sediment Remediation Program Using Benthic and Pelagic Copepod Bioassays

“…Although restrictions on the use of tributyltin that were introduced in 1989 have reduced tributyltin concentrations in New Zealand harbors (Ministry for Primary Industries 2013, Wellington, New Zealand, unpublished technical report 2013/11), it can still be detected in the environment. The main sources of legacy organotin contamination in ports continue to be boat slipways and washdown areas, antifouling paint from boat hulls, and poorly maintained boats (Vogt et al ). The presence of historic tributyltin paint flakes has been reported in harbors in European and western Asian countries (Lagerström et al ).…”

“…The toxicity of tributyltin by‐products such as triphenyltin and dibutyltin also triggered a delay in the maturation period and enhanced developmental impairments in the copepod Tigriopus japonicus (Yi et al ). The deleterious effects of organotin compounds on exposed organisms are well documented and include endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and metabolic dysfunction (Vogt et al ). The endocrine system secretes hyperglycemic hormones (crustacean hyperglycemic hormone [CHH]), essential neuropeptides for the formation and regulation gonad inhibiting hormones and molt inhibiting hormones (Webster et al ).…”

“…The endocrine system secretes hyperglycemic hormones (crustacean hyperglycemic hormone [CHH]), essential neuropeptides for the formation and regulation gonad inhibiting hormones and molt inhibiting hormones (Webster et al ). Crustaceans tend to develop hyperglycemia under stressful conditions, altering the normal production, release, and signaling of CHH, resulting in the inhibition of molting and developmental processes (Andersen et al ; Vogt et al ).…”

Bioconcentration of Organotin Cations during Molting Inhibits Heterocypris incongruens Growth

“… 41 − 44 H. incongruens is substantially more sensitive than midge larvae 45 and comparably sensitive (to heavy metals, NH 4 + ) with H. azteca , 41 but H. incongruens growth is particularly sensitive. 39 As Flanders is an urbanized coastal (maritime) and agricultural region, concentrations of organotins (antifouling endocrine disruptors) 46 − 48 and phosphate 49 , 50 could be elevated and particularly relevant for growth.…”