Biogeochemistry Of Butyltins In An Enclosed Marine Ecosystem

Tributyltin (TBT) and its degradation products were studied by introducing radiolabeled tributyltin into a 13-m3 marine enclosure (a MERL mesocosm) with near-natural water column and benthos. TBT and its degradation products were monitored for 278 days. TBT concentrations in the water column decreased at a rate of 0.20/day-1 for 15 days then slowed to 0.10/day-1. Two-thirds of the degradation proceeded through debutylation to dibutyltin (DBT), which in turn degraded to monobutyltin (MBT) at ~0.04/day-1.