THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 1987 RETAIL BAN ON TBT BASED ANTIFOULING PAINTS IN REDUCING BUTYLTIN CONCENTRATIONS IN EAST-ANGLIA, UK

Butyltin concentrations were measured at twelve freshwater sites in the Norfolk Broads, UK during July 1992 at sites previously found to be contaminated with tributyltin (TBT). Only 1 site revealed detectable butyltin concentrations in the water column. Surficial sediment TBT concentrations ranged from <3-69 ng g-1 and were markedly lower than in 1989. Elevated loadings were found in the vicinity of marinas and boatyards and where TBT was present, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) were usually found. The present study illustrates that controls instituted in the UK in 1987 on the use of TBT based paints have been effective in reducing water column and, to a lesser extent, surficial sediment concentrations in freshwater reaches of the Norfolk Broads.