Search for TOTs in Mar del Plata (Argentine) marine coast. Finding of TBT in egg capsules of a snail Adelomelon brasiliana (Lamarck, 1811) population showing Imposex effects.

RAQUEL N. GOLDBERG; A. AVERBUJ; CLEDÓN, M.; D. LUZZATTO; N. SBARBATI NUDELMAN.

APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Año: 2004 vol. 18 p. 117 - 123

0268-2605

Cases of imposex were clearly identified in Adelomelon brasiliana living in the Mar del Plata (Argentina) coastal area; percentages as high as 50.0% were determined among the samples studied. Thesewere the first reported cases of ocurrence of imposex in this type of gastropod. Since this is one of the known tributyltin (TBTs) effects, and no previous reports of determination of TBTs in gastropods eggs were found, methods were developed for the speciation and quantitative determination of organotins in A. brasiliana egg capsules. Determination of organotins in samples collected in the Mar del Plata area showed contents of tributyltin chloride (TBT) as high as 400 ng l−1 in water and 6.50 ìg g−1 in sediments of areas of intensive boat traffic. The results showed the presence of TBT in the egg capsules of A. brasiliana at three different instars (range 0.264?1.86 ìg per egg). As far as we know, this is the first report of the finding of TBT in gastropod egg capsules.