Organometallics in the nearshore marine environment of Australia

Abstract

AbstractThis review draws together published information on the occurrence and biogeochemical cycling of selenium, arsenic and tin in the nearshore marine environment of Australia. The selenium content of marine organisms is well documented but little information is available on the selenium content of waters and sediments. The speciation of selenium in organisms, water and sediments is unknown although it appears that selenium is associated with proteins. The occurrence and speciation of arsenic in marine organisms has been extensively studied, with arsonobetaine being isolated as the probable end‐product of arsenic metabolism in marine food chains. However, organisms can produce other organoarsenic compounds, e.g. trimethylarsine oxide, which may be metabolized to toxic end‐products. Little is known about the occurrence and speciation of arsenic in waters and sediments. Arsenic(V) is dominant in oxygenated waters, with appreciable quantities of arsenic(III) in some deoxygenated waters.There are few data for tin in water, sediments or organisms and no data on naturally occurring tin species. Tributyltin has been measured in water, sediment and organisms from areas affected by boating activity.