Environmental impact of antifouling technologies: state of the art and perspectives

1. Marine fouling affects most man-made surfaces temporarily or permanently immersed in the sea. resulting in significant (or substantial) economic co sts. Intense research is aimed at preventing or reducing fouling. 2. The most widespread solution to avoid fouling formation is to make surfa ces unsuitable for settlers. coating them with antifouling (AF) paints cont aining toxic compounds. Most AF agents (e.g. tributyltin. (TBT)) have undes irable effects on non-target species. including commercially important orga nisms. 3. To date, the use of TBT in AF paints has been restricted (but not prohib ited) in a number of countries and new biocides are in use. 4. The environmental problems posed to marine systems by AF technologies Li re here briefly reviewed. 5. New approaches focusing on alternatives to the use of biocidal AF paints are also considered and discussed. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons., Ltd.