Abstract
Organotin compounds, such as tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) have been used worldwide in antifouling paints for ships and fishing nets since the mid-1960s. These organotins have caused severe contamination in the marine environment, because of low rate of decomposition by bacteria and remarkably high accumulation in marine organisms. TBT and TPT are very toxic to organisms, and also known as environmental hormones (endocrine disrupters). Gastropods imposex is accepted to be typically induced by very low concentrations of TBT and/or TPT in the marine environment. The authors have studied the Japanese gastropod imposex as well as organotin contamination in the inshore waters of Japan since 1990, in terms of the current status and mode of action of organotins. Here, the results on our field studies concerning the current status of the Japanese gastropod imposex and organotin contamination in the inshore waters of Japan will be summarized. Results on laboratory experiments to reveal the mode of action of organotins will be also presented, indicating a new hypothesis about induction mechanism of imposex in gastropods. [J Radiat Res 44:386 (2003)]
