IMMUNOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ORGANOTIN COMPOUNDS IN TAPES-PHILIPPINARUM

One of the most harmful groups of coastal pollutants is the organotin compounds (OTCs) which have severe effects on both aquatic organisms a nd mammals including humans. The immunotoxic effects of OTCs were stud ied in the cultivated clam Tapes philippinarum by determining the immu nosuppressant role on in vitro yeast phagocytosis at low doses (0.01, 0.05, 0.1 mu M). The phagocytic index was significantly reduced in an irreversible non-lethal manner depending on concentration and lipophil ic affinity. The order of inhibition was TBT greater than or equal to DBT greater than or equal to MBT for butyltins and TPTC>TPTA greater t han or equal to TPTH for triphenyltins. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.