ORGANOTIN COMPOUNDS IN WATER, SEDIMENT, AND BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES FROM THE PORT-OF-OSAKA, JAPAN

Butyltin (Bts) and phenyltin compounds (Pts) were measured in water, s ediment, plankton, and mussels collected from eight stations in the ha rbor area of the Port of Osaka in 1996, and were compared with those o f Otsuchi Bay. The levels of tributyltin (TBT) compounds in all sample s from the Port of Osaka were slightly high in marinas and mooring are as of small and medium-hull vessels. Of total Bts, the ratio of TBT wa s under 50% in water and was dominant in sediment? plankton, and musse ls. Triphenyltin (TPT) compounds in water were not detected. TPT was p resent at lower levels than TBT in sediment, plankton, and mussels. Of total Pts, monophenyltin (MPT) compounds and diphenyltin (DPT) compou nds represented a high proportion in sediment, while TPT was dominant in plankton and mussels. The concentrations of TBT in water from the P ort of Osaka were lower than those from Otsuchi Bay, however TBT conce ntrations in sediment, plankton, and mussels from the Port of Osaka we re higher than those from Otsuchi Bay. The difference of TBT concentra tion among stations in the Port of Osaka was slight. In contrast, the levels of TBT in Otsuchi Bay were markedly higher at a station near th e shipyard. Though TPT in water from the Port of Osaka was not detecte d, trace amounts of TPT was found in seawater from Otsuchi Bay. The le vels and detected frequencies of TPT in sediment, plankton, and mussel s from the Port of Osaka were lower than in those from Otsuchi Bay. Th e partition coefficients of Bts to sediment, plankton, and mussels fro m the Port of Osaka were higher than those of dibutyltin (DBT) compoun ds and MBT and those of TBT to plankton and mussels were higher than t hose in sediment. The partition coefficients of TBT to sediment and bi ological samples from the Port of Osaka were higher level than those i n Otsuchi Bay.