Monitoring of organotin compounds and their effects in marine molluscs

Organotin compounds are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. The high biological activity of some compounds toward aquatic organisms leads to deleterious impacts in aquatic ecosystems. A comprehensive view is given of the occurrence, biochemical effects and impact of organotin contamination on molluscs along the Catalan coast (Northwestern Mediterranean). Chemical analysis of biota samples revealed that several years after legislation to reduce tributyltin (TBT) inputs, the concentration of this compound in mussels inhabiting Catalan harbours is still elevated. Likewise, levels of organotins outside the harbours are high enough to cause imposer in the commercial muricid Bolinus brandaris. The interaction of TBT with the molluscan cytochrome P450 and the consequences for the organism in terms of hormonal disruptions are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.