Publication Abstract

Organotin compounds in liver tissue of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the coastal waters of England and Wales

Organotin compounds in liver tissue of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the coastal waters of England and Wales

R.J. Law, S.J. Blake, B.R. Jones and E. Rogan

Organotin compounds are used in antifouling paints for vessels over 25m in length, as pesticides and in industrial processes. Harbour porpoises and grey seals feed in coastal waters and so are exposed to organotin compounds via their diet. Samples of liver tissue from 29 porpoises and five seals bycaught or stranded around England and Wales from 1992-96 have been analysed for tributyl, dibutyl and monobutyltin as their hydrides using gas chromatography with flame-photometric detection. Triphenyltin can also be determined using this methodology, although with lower sensitivity, but was not detected in any sample. Concentrations of total butyltins (EBTs) in porpoise liver were within the range 22 to 640 [µg kg^-1 wet weight, and in grey seals were lower, 3 to 22 µg kg^-1 wet weight. Whilst levels of organotin contamination in porpoises and seals stranded around England and Wales are lower than those reported for small cetaceans from other areas, further study is needed of the possible toxic effects of these compounds (including immuno suppression) and the risk that their accumulation poses to these animals. Some data are also needed for other UK coastal mammals, such as the common seal (Phoca vitulina) and the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates).

Reference:

R.J. Law, S.J. Blake, B.R. Jones and E. Rogan, 1998. Organotin compounds in liver tissue of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the coastal waters of England and Wales. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 36: 241-247

R.J. Law*, S.J. Blake*, B.R. Jones* and E. Rogan

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 36: 241-247