Seasonal variations in levels of butyltin compounds in mussel tissues sampled in an oil port

The aim of the present study has been to follow the seasonal variations of organotin compounds in the mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam.), under natural conditions in the Genoa oil port. To this purpose, mussels were sampled at one month intervals between 1994 and 1995 and the organotins were extracted from the whole body, the gills and the digestive glands. The determinations were carried out by using a HPLC-hydride generation-ICP-AES system. The results were analyzed by a multivariate statistical method, such as the principal component analysis, an useful support in the data elaboration. Dibutyltin showed the highest concentrations among the considered compounds. Both tributyltin and dibutyltin showed seasonal variations in their concentrations, while monobutyltin did not in all the tissues sampled, during the considered period.