Preliminary studies about the role of physicochemical parameters on the organotin compounds dynamic in a South American Estuary (Bahía Blanca, Argentina)

QUINTAS, PAMELA Y.; FERNANDEZ ELEONORA; CARLA V. SPETTER; ANDRES H ARIAS; GARRIDO, MARIANO; JORGE E. MARCOVECCHIO

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2019

0167-6369

This work provides a preliminary study of the destination, mobility and availability of tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) in contaminated sediments and water column within Puerto Rosales Port, located in the middle zone of the Bahía Blanca Estuary (Argentina). Therefore, this study presents the first comprehensive results of the role of several physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, Eh, salinity, turbidity, organic matter, chlorophyll and macronutrients) in behavior of organotin compounds (OTCs) in a marine-coastal ecosystem.The samples were collected seasonally in May, August and November during 2014. Levels of OTCs were determined in sediments and water column samples by means of gas chromatography? mass spectrometry analysis. Degradation index analyses suggested not recent inputs of TBT at the area of study. However, results submitted a continuous input of TBT into the column water; further, its distribution and degradation pattern were shown to be influenced by salinity, turbidity, particulate organic matter, chlorophyll and nitrates. These last two parameters, chlorophyll and nitrates, also were very important for sediment samples. Chlorophyll together high temperatures recorded in the surface sediments triggers biodegradation process of TBT and DBT resulting in high MBT levels while; nitrates seemed to promote debutylation process. Furthermore, pH appeared to influence drastically the adsorption/desorption activity of TBT and DBT in sediment. Finally, the Eh obtained suggested a degradation of TBT thanks to the presence of Fe (III) in this compartment. In addition, in fact, the results outlined a possible MBT additional input that contributes to the pollution observed in the study area.