DETERMINATION OF BUTYLTINS IN HARBOR SEDIMENT AND WATER BY AQUEOUS-PHASE ETHYLATION GC-ICP-MS AND HYDRIDE GENERATION GC-AAS

Sediment and water samples have been collected between 1992 and 1995 f or evaluating butyltin contamination in two marinas from the coastal a rea in The Netherlands, two years after the ban of TBT. Sediments extr acts were analysed by capillary gas chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Sediment concentrations for TBT showed no t rend of decrease between 1992 and 1995 and were extremely high in the marina secluded from tidal action; 17.5 +/- 8.0 mu g g(-1) and much lo wer for the marina with tidal action; 0.117 +/- 0.073 mu g g(-1). High ratios between TBT and DBT in the sediments indicate that degradation mechanisms in the sediments are of minor importance. Dissolved butylt in compounds were analysed in water by means of gas chromatography-ato mic absorption spectrometry. Water concentrations of TBT showed no cle ar trend of decrease between 1992 and 1995 and were high in the marina secluded from tidal action; 139 +/- 166 ng litre(-1) but much lower f or the marina with tidal action; 48 +/- 98 ng litrl(-1). An active deg radation mechanism during summer periods was indicated by low (< 1)TBT /DBT ratios in the water phase of the marina secluded from tidal actio n. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.