The Determination of Organotin Compounds Levels in Sediment Samples from Turkish Aegean Sea Coast

Abstract

The purpose of this study was reveal of organic tin compounds (OTC) levels at different marinas choose from Turkish Aegean Sea coastline. The sediment samples were collected in a seasonal period and tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) concentrations were detected at the ng g -1 within sediment using by GC coupled MS. In this way, effects of the most important organic tin entry points of maritime activities were try to determine in the coastal line along the Aegean Sea. This study includes from the north to the southern part of all the Aegean Sea coast line from 8 stations and 16 samples with references points. Reference stations were picked in sea shores where far away from maritime traffic and using for human activities like beaches and ports. Station 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8 are the most popular marinas located in study area. Station 3 and 5 are small fishing port, station 2 is the only ship breaking site. Following winter sampling, mean concentration of ∑butyltin for all stations was 1,091.5 ng g -1 Sn. and average concentration of ∑butyltin for all reference points was 495.9 ng g -1 Sn. After summer sampling, mean concentration of ∑butyltin for all stations was 2,691.2 ng g -1 S n . a n d m e a n concentration of ∑butyltin for all reference stations was determined as 1,343.9 ng g -1 Sn. Thus, both the highest and lowest OTC levels from the most intense areas in terms of maritime activities along the coast of the Aegean Sea were determined. At the end of the study, we determined that the total OTC concentrations in the sediment samples showed the significant spatio- temporal changes.