Assessment of tributyltin contamination in fish and shellfish and its potential human health risk in Korea

Abstract

Human health risk assessment with consumption of tributyltin contaminated seafood was conducted based on extensive field and market basket survey in Korea. Fish samples were collected by fishing and purchased from local markets. Total 57 fish samples of 22 species were analyzed at 26 sites. Overall ranges of tributyltin concentrations in muscle of fish were from <1 to 176 ng/g. Organotins in liver were analyzed from 45 out of 57 fish samples, and mean total BT concentrations in liver were approximately 13 times higher than those in muscle. Total BTs in muscle and liver of fish collected near shore was 3 and 9 times higher than those in the fish purchased from local markets, respectively. For further market basket survey, total 35 species (consisting of 22 species of fish, 5 of bivalve, 2 of crustacean, 4 of processed food, and 1 of invertebrate) were purchased from the three biggest seafood markets in Korea. The collected seafood stuffs occupy 80% of total fish and shellfish consumption in Korea. Hazard quotient derived from the market basket survey was far less than 1. However, tributyltin and dibutyltin levels in field collected fish and shellfish exceeded the tolerable average residue level.