Occurrence of antifouling biocides in the Spanish Mediterranean marine environment

A compilation of the results of a monitoring program of the recently used a ntifouling pesticides diuron (3-(3.4dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea), Irga rol 1051 (2-methylthio-4-tertiary-butylamino-6-cyclopropylamino-s-terazine) , seanine 211 (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-isothazolin-3-one) chlorothalonil (2, 4,5,6-tetrachloro-isophthalonitrile), dichlofluanid (N'-dimethyl-N-phenylsu lphanamide), TCMTB ((2-thiocyanomethyithio) benzothiazole). and three degra dation products demethyldiuron (3-0.4-didchlorophenyl)-1-methylurea), 3,4-d ichlomphenylurea and 2-methylthio-4-tert-butylaminos-triazine (Irgarol degr adation product) that was carried out between April 1996 and February 2000 in enclosed seawaters from Catalonia and Almeria (Spanish Mediterranean coa st) is reported. Nine points were sampled along the Catalan coast: Barcelon a Olympic port, Masnou, Blanes, Sent Cartes de Is Rapita. Tarragona. Cambri ls and Salou marinas as well as the Cambrils and Tarragona fishing harbors and in marinas and ports from Almeria: Aguadulce port, Almeria port, Almeri mar fishing harbour and Almerimar marina. The analytical methodologies were based on Solid Phase Extraction followed by liquid chromatography (LC) or gas chromatography (GC) coupled to a mass spectrometry (MS) or -Diode Array Detector. The main pollutants found in the sampled points were diuron and Irgarol 1051 that were detected at concentrations up to 2.19 mug l(-1) and 0.33 pg l(-1), respectively. On the other hand, seanine 211 was found at th e highest concentration (up to 3.7 mug l(-1)) during the summer of 1999. Lo w concentrations of dichlofluanid and the above mentioned degradation produ cts were detected for the first time in the Spanish coasts. Chlorothalonil, TCMTB were not found at concentrations higher than 1 and 20 ng l(-1) respe ctively which were the limit of determination (LOD) of the method for these compounds. In general the contamination at the different marinas is higher at the end of spring and in summer where the boating activity is also high er. This papa shows for the first time that the contamination by the new an tifouling pesticides in Spanish coastline, basically marinas and fishing ha rbours, is permanent along the whole calendar year. So, preventive actions by the harbour authorities will be needed in the near future in order to mo nitor and control the levels and effects of the new antifouling biocides in the marine environment.