Adsorption Characteristics of Tributyltin Compounds to Port and Harbor Sediments

Abstract

The highly toxic tributyltin (TBT) compounds used as biocides in ship antifouling paints have been released to aquatic environments. In this study, we investigated the sediment-water partition of organotin compounds using the sediments collected from several ports and harbors. As a result, the adsorption of TBT onto a particle was found to be significantly determined by organic carbon content and temperature and less significantly by pH and salinity. The possibility of the effect of dibutyltin (DBT) adsorption on TBT adsorption was suggested.