Butylin compounds (BTs) including tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT)
and monobutyltin (MBT) were analysed in sediments collected from coast
al areas of Thailand in 1995, Contamination by BTs have been widesprea
d along the coastal areas with concentrations of MBT, DBT and TEST in
surface sediments ranging from 7 to 410, 2 to 1900 and 4 to 4500 ng g(
-1) (dry weight basis), respectively High TBT concentrations were asso
ciated with large commercial or far seas vessels areas, while the leve
ls at high fishing boat and coastal mariculture areas were lower, Larg
e commercial ship and fishing boat hulls might be significant sources
of BT contamination in Thailand coastal waters, Degradation of TBT in
sediments might he higher in tropics than in sub-tropical a;one, To ou
r knowledge, this is a first report on the detection of BTs in sedimen
ts from Thailand, (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.