Occurrence, ecological and human health risks of phenyltin compounds in the marine environment of Hong Kong

Triphenyltin (TPT) has been known as one of the most toxic compounds being released into the marine environment by anthropogenic means. This study assessed the contamination statuses of TPT and its two major degradants, i.e., monophenyltin and diphenyltin, in seawater, sediment and biota samples from marine environments of Hong Kong, a highly urbanized and densely populated city, and evaluated their ecological and human health risks. The results showed that the Hong Kong's marine environments were heavily contaminated with these chemicals, especially for TPT. Concentration ranges of TPT in seawater, sediment and biota samples were 3.8–11.7 ng/L, 71.8–91.7 ng/g d.w., and 9.6–1079.9 ng/g w.w., respectively. As reflected by high hazard quotients (1.7–5.3 for seawaters; 46.1–59.0 for sediments), TPT exhibited high ecological and human health risks. Our results are essential for the future management and control of anthropogenic TPT use in antifouling paints and as biocides in agriculture.