Organotin compounds (OTs) in surface sediments, bivalves and algae from the Russian coast of the Barents Sea (Kola Peninsula) and the Fram Strait (Svalbard Archipelago).

Abstract

Organotin pollution in components of benthic ecosystems was investigated in 2019 in the Barents Sea (South shore, Kola Peninsula) and the Fram Strait (Icefjord, Svalbard Archipelago). Six species of organotin compounds (OTs), including monobutyltin, dibutyltin, tributyltin, tetrabutyltin, triphenyltin and tricyclohexyltin, were measured in the surface sediments, bivalve molluscs (Ciliatocardium ciliatum, Macoma calcarea, Chlamys islandica) and macrophyte algae (Saccharina latissima, Palmaria palmata, Ulvaria obscura, Fucus serratus, Fucus distichus). The results obtained showed moderate contamination of the studied samples with OTs. The total content of six tin compounds was in the ranges 35-139ngg-1, 13-108ngg-1 and 2.9-75ngg-1 (dry weight) in the samples of sediments, bivalves and algae, respectively. In most cases, the concentrations of tributyltin in bottom sediments and mollusc tissues did not exceed the established international regulations. The degradation indices analysis of butyl tin derivatives indicated the active transformation of tributyltin and tetrabutyltin in bottom sediments and macrophyte algae and the accumulation of these compounds in the soft tissues of molluscs. The sediment and mollusc concentrations of OTs measured in this study were comparable to those reported for other areas of the Arctic region.