Environmental Fate and Effects of Organotin Biocides: A Molecular and Microbiological Assessment

The goal of this project was to provide a better understanding of the environmental occurrence (marine and estuarine), fate, and effects of the toxic tributyltin species, an active agent in new ship antifouling coatings. Ultratrace butyltin measurement methodology, interlaboratory measurement comparisons were made, and the measurement methods were applied to studying the environmental occurrence and fate of butyltin species. A new pathway to environmental methylin production was described and area for a number of current and prospective organotin biocides was provided. Collaboration with three Navy laboratories during the course of this research, resulted in 19 publications and 25 scientific presentations.