D. Minchin et al., MARINE TBT ANTIFOULING CONTAMINATION IN IRELAND, FOLLOWING LEGISLATION IN 1987, Marine pollution bulletin, 30(10), 1995, pp. 633-639
This account examines TBT contamination in Irish waters following its
ban in April 1987 on all nets, structures, and vessels of <25 m, Impos
er in dog-whelks, a sensitive indicator for TBT, was examined in 1987
and 1993 using the following methods: the relative size of the female
to male penis, female penis length, and the vas deferens sequence, In
areas of high contamination female snails became sterile and some popu
lations became extinct, The extensive 1987 survey indicated most inlet
s and bays had TBT contamination. In 1993, selected areas, having eith
er salmon culture, yachts and boats, or ships, were re-examined. There
was significant recovery in areas of salmon culture and small boat ac
tivity but a general increase at sites adjacent to shipping ports, At
distances greater than 9 km from the main sources of TBT, indices for
imposer were low.