Occurrence, ecological and human health risks of phenyltin compounds in the marine environment of Hong Kong

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 154; p. 111093
• Main Authors: Sham, Ronia Chung-tin, Ho, Kevin King Yan, Zhou, Guang-Jie, Li, Yongyu, Wang, Xinhong, Leung, Kenneth Mei Yee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Anthropogenic factors; Antifoulants; Antifouling coatings; Antifouling substances; Biocides; Biota; Chemical analysis; China; Contamination; Ecological effects; Ecological risk; Health risk; Health risk assessment; Health risks; human health; Marine environment; Marine pollution; Organotin compounds; Phenyltin; Population density; Quotients; Risk; Seawater; Sediment; Sediment samples; Sediments; Toxicity; Triphenyltin; Water analysis; Hong Kong China; China; Organotin compounds; Triphenyltin; Ecological risk; Antifoulants; Health risk
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111093

Triphenyltin (TPT) has been known as one of the most toxic compounds being released into the marine environment by anthropogenic means. This study assessed the contamination statuses of TPT and its two major degradants, i.e., monophenyltin and diphenyltin, in seawater, sediment and biota samples from marine environments of Hong Kong, a highly urbanized and densely populated city, and evaluated their ecological and human health risks. The results showed that the Hong Kong's marine environments were heavily contaminated with these chemicals, especially for TPT. Concentration ranges of TPT in seawater, sediment and biota samples were 3.8–11.7 ng/L, 71.8–91.7 ng/g d.w., and 9.6–1079.9 ng/g w.w., respectively. As reflected by high hazard quotients (1.7–5.3 for seawaters; 46.1–59.0 for sediments), TPT exhibited high ecological and human health risks. Our results are essential for the future management and control of anthropogenic TPT use in antifouling paints and as biocides in agriculture. •High concentrations of PTs were detected in the marine environment of Hong Kong.•PTs in the marine environment were dominated by TPT, followed by MPT and DPT.•Western waters of Hong Kong were generally more polluted than the southern waters.•High environmental levels of PTs could pose ecological risks to marine organisms.•Human health risks were associated with the consumption of highly polluted seafood.