King et al.--TBT levels in coastal Northland and Auckland

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

Tributyl tin levels for sea water, sediment, and selected marine species in coastal Northland and Auckland, New Zealand

NICK KING

MICHAEL MILLER

Department of Zoology University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand

STEVE de MORA*

Department of Chemistry University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract Water and sediment samples were collected from the Waitemata Harbour, Opua Inlet, and Tutukaka Harbour, and analysed for tributyl tin (TBT) using a hydride generation atomic absorption method. Specimens of oysters (Crassostrea gigas, Saccostrea glomerata, Ostrea heffordi) and oyster borer, Lepsiella scobina, were collected from the Tamaki Estuary and surrounding areas. These specimens were analysed for TBT using graphite furnace atomic absorption, and the oyster shell valves were examined for thickening. Concentrations of TBT in the water column were as high as 0.32 u\g TBT-Sn H. Marina sediments contained up to 0.240 |0,g TBT-Sn g"¹. Shell thickening was found to occur in C. gigas where its incidence was correlated with the TBT body burden. Concentrations up to 2.24 |xg TBT-Sn gr¹ (on a dry weight basis) were observed for C. gigas. This survey provides evidence for the toxic influence of TBT on non-target organisms in New Zealand.

Keywords Tributyl tin; pollution; marinas

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