Tributyltin

The structure of tributyltin oxide: the most common TBT compound used in marine paint
Biofouling on the hull of a boat

Tributyltin (TBT) is an umbrella term for a class of organotin compounds which contain the (C4H9)3Sn group, with a prominent example being tributyltin oxide.[1] For 40 years TBT was used as a biocide in anti-fouling paint, commonly known as bottom paint, applied to the hulls of oceangoing vessels.[2] Bottom paint improves ship performance and durability as it reduces the rate of biofouling, the growth of organisms on the ship's hull. The TBT slowly leaches out into the marine environment where it is highly toxic toward nontarget organisms. TBT toxicity can lead to biomagnification or bioaccumulation within such nontarget organisms like invertebrates, vertebrates, and a variety of mammals. TBT is also an obesogen.[3] After it led to collapse of local populations of organisms, TBT was banned.[4]

  1. ^ Antizar-Ladislao, Blanca (Feb 2008). "Environmental levels, toxicity and human exposure to tributyltin (TBT)-contaminated marine environment. A review". Environment International. 34 (2): 292–308. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2007.09.005. PMID 17959247. Archived from the original on 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  2. ^ Ofoegbu, Pearl U.; Simão, Fátima C. P.; Cruz, Andreia; Mendo, Sónia; Soares, Amadeu M. V. M.; Pestana, João L. T. (2016-04-01). "Toxicity of tributyltin (TBT) to the freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea". Chemosphere. 148: 61–67. Bibcode:2016Chmsp.148...61O. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.12.131. ISSN 0045-6535. PMID 26802264.
  3. ^ Pereira-Fernandes, Anna; Vanparys, Caroline; Hectors, Tine L.M.; Vergauwen, Lucia; Knapen, Dries; Jorens, Philippe G.; Blust, Ronny (2013). "Unraveling the mode of action of an obesogen: Mechanistic analysis of the model obesogen tributyltin in the 3T3-L1 cell line". Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 370 (1–2): 52–64. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2013.02.011. PMID 23428407. S2CID 196815.
  4. ^ Konstantinou, Ioannis (Feb 22, 2006). Antifouling Paint Biocides. Springer. pp. 1.