OCCURRENCE OF BUTYLTIN COMPOUNDS IN MUSSELS IN CANADA

The presence of the highly toxic antifouling agent tributyltin (TBT) a nd its degradation products was determined in four species of mussels collected from 34 locations in fresh water in Ontario and in sea water on Canada's west and east coasts, The purpose of the study was to est ablish baseline information in order to assess TBT trends in mussels a fter the 1989 Canadian regulation of antifouling uses of TBT. In fresh water, concentrations of TBT were much higher in zebra mussels (Dreis sena polymorpha) than in Elliptio complanata or Lampsilis radiata radi ata, High concentrations of TBT were also found in Mytilus edulus in s ea water, Residues of TBT in all species were similar to those that ha ve been determined in other parts of the world before and after the re gulation of antifouling uses of TBT in various countries, Analyses for degradation products indicated that zebra mussels metabolize TBT at a bout the same rate as L, radiata radiata and M, edulis, but more slowl y than E, complanata. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.