Study on the New Antifouling Compounds in Korean Coasts

Abstract

After prohibition of use of organic tin compounds, new antifouling agents have been used as substitute paints. In 2009, this lab re-conducted the same research from 2006 that focused on concentrations of chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, and Irgarol in the major bays of Korea, in order to assess changes in concentrations. Among the new antifouling agents detected in 2006, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, and Irgarol 1051 were detected up to 4.19, 61.69, and 23.80 ng/L, respectively. However, in 2009, up to 67.96, 74.79, and 67.64 ng/L were detected. Compared to 2006, there were apparent increases in the concentration of all three compounds in all areas where the research was conducted. These results indicate the need for further research regarding the hazards of these compounds.

Assessment of organotin and tin-free antifouling paints contamination in the Korean coastal area

“…The concentration of tin-free AFP ranged from 370 to 738 ng/g-dry weight (mean: 553 ng/g-dry weight) on the west coast and from 195 to 413 ng/g-dry weight (mean: 318 ng/g-dry weight) on the east coast. In a previous study of the Korean marine environment similar results were observed, with the concentration of butyltin in seawater from the east coast found to be 3.7-fold higher than in samples from the west coast and the concentrations of some tin-free AFPs (chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, and Irgarol 1051) in seawater from the west coast found to be 3.5-fold higher than in samples from the east coast (Lee et al, 2010). In another study of OTs in Korea a similar trend was identified, with the concentration of TBT and TPT in bivalves collected from the east coast found to be higher than in bivalves from the west coast (Shim et al, 2005).…”

“…5a), because of the higher mean concentration of Irgarol 1051 in Busan and Ulsan bays than in the Korean coastal area. A previous study also reported similar results, with a high concentration of chlorothalonil and dichlofluanid in seawater from Busan bay, and the highest concentration of chlorothalonil recorded in Ulsan bay seawater (Lee et al, 2010). This suggests that large amounts of chlorothalonil and dichlofluanid have been used in Busan and Ulsan bays and subsequently released to the marine environment.…”

“…However, further studies should be performed to confirm this, particularly to determine desorption and adsorption in association with physicochemical parameters (Langston and Pope, 1995;Kram et al, 1989) Compared to the coastal areas and Ulsan Bay, the samples taken from Busan Bay had higher levels of OTs and tin-free AFPs. An earlier study of these areas also reported the highest levels of tin-free AFPs (chlorothalonil and dichlofluanid) in seawater samples from Busan Bay (Lee et al, 2010). The largest container port in Korea is located in Busan Bay, handling over ten million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year and accounting for 73% of the container cargo supply in Korea (BPA, 2013).…”

“…A recent study of Irgarol 1051 and diuron in Korean seawater indicated a possibility of reduction in root growth rate among macrophyte species (Kim et al, 2014;Lambert et al, 2006) and an approximate fivefold increase of the concentration of tin-free AFPs from 2006 to 2009, while a twofold decrease in the butyltin concentration in coastal areas was observed in the same period (Lee et al, 2011). Contamination by tin-free AFPs in the Korean marine environment is worsening, but only three domestic studies of tin-free AFPs in seawater have been conducted (Lee et al, 2010(Lee et al, , 2011Kim et al, 2014). In addition, there have been no studies of tin-free AFPs in sediment from the Korean coastal area.…”

Changes of exoskeleton surface roughness and expression of crucial participation genes for chitin formation and digestion in the mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus) following the antifouling biocide irgarol

“…Maximum concentration of measured irgarol was 2021 ng L À 1 in coastal waters of peninsular Malaysia (Ali et al, 2013). Irgarol was also detected at concentrations up to 67.64 ng L À 1 along Korean coasts (Lee et al, 2010a). Irgarol may cause problems for top coastal predators because of bioaccumulation up the food chain.…”