Organotin compounds and international treaties on the pollution of water by dangerous substances: Black or grey list substances?

Abstract

A brief review is given of international agreements governing water pollution by hazardous organotin compounds. Emphasis is placed on the Rhine Chemical Convention (1976) and the Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464/EEC. Organotin pesticides first appeared in 1974 on the grey list. In 1976, however, the whole group of organotin compounds was placed on the black list. Although priorities have recently been set for the Rhine and the European Community (EC), no scientific arguments have apparently been put forward to date either in support of these priorities or to explain the need to move this group of substances to the black list.