Evidence for rapid degradation of tributyltin in a marina

Tributyltin (TBT) was found to degrade rapidly to dibutyltin (DBT) in a marina where high TBT concentrations have been reported. In a die-away experiment the half-life of TBT in water from this marina was six days. The half-life of 14C-TBT (2 μg l −1) added to yacht basin water was 6 and 7 days in the light and dark, respectively. The principal TBT metabolite was dibutyltin (DBT) with slower formation of monobutyltin (MBT) and 14CO 2. Microbial degradation appears to be the primary process accounting for TBT degradation in seawater.