Ecological Risk Assessment of Tributyltin in the Coastal Environment of Korea

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, tributyltin (TBT) has been one of environmental concerns due to its high toxicity and direct introduction into the aquatic environment mainly from antifouling paints applied for ship hulls. The high toxicities of TBT have been revealed in a number of aquatic animals. Although many countries, including Korea, regulated use of TBT for ships less than 25 m in length from the early 1980s, contamination persist at chronic levels. To assess the risk of marine organisms imposed by TBT in the marine environment of Korea, logistic regression risk assessment model (95% species protection) was run with expected TBT concentrations in coastal waters and literature surveyed toxicological data of TBT. Based on the acute and chronic toxicity data, more than 95% of marine species could be protected from TBT contamination. However, about 15% of species could be affected by water TBT contamination in chronic threshold toxicity levels. The effects of TBT on marine organisms are confined near TBT source areas such as harbors and shipyards in Korea