Structure–toxicity Relationship of Tin Compounds on Algae

Abstract

The effects of a number of inorganic and organic tin compounds on pure cultures of green and blue-green algae and natural phytoplankton in lake water were tested. Organic tin compounds were generally more inhibitory to primary production and reproduction of the algae than inorganic tin compounds. The toxicity of organotin compounds varied considerably with the number and nature of the organic groups attached to tin, with trialkyl tin compounds being the most toxic forms. Within a given alkyl tin compound series, the longer the carbon chain, the higher the toxicity. A direct relationship between toxicity and partition coefficients of trialkyl tin compounds was observed. Other tin compounds had no such direct relationship.Key words: algae, tin, toxicity, partition coefficients

Spéciation des organoétains dans les eaux et sédiments du bassin Adour-Garonne

“…Ainsi, le TBT ou le TPhT ont des effets délétères sur certains organismes d'eau douce tels que les truites ou les algues à des concentrations de quelques ug(Sn)/l, voire inférieures au ug(Sn)/l [TOOBY ef al., 1975, WONG et al, 1982. De nombreuses études consacrées au TBT ont également démontré ses effets néfastes sur la reproduction des mollusques gastéropodes à partir de 1 ng(Sn)/l seulement [BETTIN ef al.…”

“…(1975), TOOBY ef al. (1975), WONG et al (1982]. Ils ont été identifiés comme responsables des phénomènes d'imposex [BAUER et al (1995), BETTIN ef al.…”

“…Even if différences exist between the level of contamination in freshwater and estuarine environments, the ubiquitous présence of OTC must remain a subject of concern, especially with regard to the high toxicity of organotins. For example, TBT and TPhT hâve lethal effects on trout and algal species at aquatic concentrations in the jig (Sn)/L range or even below this concentration [TOOBY et al (1975), WONG et al (1982]. Considering this high toxicity, other studies will hâve to be performed in order to increase the current database concerning OTC in ri vers.…”

Contaminação ambiental por compostos organoestânicos

“…A toxicidade dos compostos organoestânicos varia consideravelmente de acordo com o número e a natureza dos grupos orgânicos e, geralmente, diminui na ordem tri-(R 3 SnX) > di-(R 2 SnX 2 ) > mono-(RSnX 3 ) substituídos, enquanto os tetraorganoestânicos R 4 Sn apresentam baixa toxicidade 25 . O aumento na toxicidade pode ser relacionado à insolubilidade dos compostos em água 26 . A hidrofobicidade, processo de partição regido termodinamicamente entre a água e a fase lipídica do organismo é, de fato, considerada o principal parâmetro na bioconcentração desses compostos 23 .…”

Inorganic Materials Biotechnology: A New Industrial Measurement Challenge

“…Transmission of certain cheurical forms of metals and metalloids across membranes occupies much attention of toxicologists and molecular geneticists [40] but much additional research is needed to complete our understanding of superficial membrane complexation of metal and metalloid ions, their entry into cell interiors and their ultimate fate. Nonetheless, progress has been made in describing bacterial uptaketransmission of isostructural, isoelectronic, and isosteric agents, as illustrated by the arsenate-phosphate [9], divalent cations [41], organotins [42] cases. Far more difficult will be the establishment of underlying biochemical factors that control the rate and extent of precipitation and morphology of those elements and their compounds that actually agglomerate in diffuse or specific sites within living cells.…”