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

Abstract

Tributyltin (TBT) compound is toxic chemicals because of their deleterious effects on non-target marine organisms. High concentrations of TBT have been found in Korean coastal environments. Korean people consume many seafood stuffs for one of the major protein sources. However, there has been no attempt to evaluate human health risk assessment with consumption of TBT contaminated seafood based on extensive field and market basket survey in Korea as well as in the literature survey. Fish samples were collected by fishing and purchased from local markets for nationwide monitoring study. Total 57 fish samples of 22 species were analyzed at 26 sites. Butyltins were detected from 55 out of 57 fish muscle samples. Overall ranges of tributyltin concentrations in muscle of fish were from <1 to 176 ng/g. Overall concentrations of degradation products, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), in muscle ranged from <2 to 305 ng/g and from <3 to 46 ng/g, respectively. 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 purchased fish, 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 the other 1 of invertebrate) were purchased from the three biggest seafood markets in Korea. The collected species occupy 80% of total fish and shellfish consumption in Korea. Risk assessment is followed the US EPA model. Considering both the contamination status and consumption amount of seafood, TBT is relatively low risk to human health.