Occurrence of butyltin compounds in the waters of selected lakes, rivers and coastal environments from China

The presence of butyltin compounds was investigated for the first time in s elected lakes, rivers and coastal environments of China. Aqueous samples we re pretreated by the technique of headspace solid phase micro-extraction af ter hydride generation with sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH4). Quantitative m easurement of tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) co ncentrations were accomplished by capillary gas chromatography with flame p hotometric detector using quartz surface-induced luminescence. Experimental data demonstrated the widespread occurrence of butyltin compounds in the C hinese aquatic environment. In some locations, the concentrations of TBT we re higher than the acute and chronic toxicity threshold of sensitive fresh water or marine organisms. Although DBT and MBT (which mainly come from the degradation of TBT), are less toxic, their occurrence can still affect the ecosystem over a long time frame. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.