CONTAMINATION BY BUTYLTIN COMPOUNDS IN SEDIMENTS FROM THAILAND

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.