Temporal evolution of imposex and butyltin contamination in Gemophos viverratus from São Vicente (Cabo Verde) - a countercurrent trend on the world scenario

Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Sep:170:112633. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112633. Epub 2021 Jun 23.

Abstract

Organotin (OT) based Antifouling Systems (AFS) were globally banned by the AFS Convention since 2008, but the Republic of Cabo Verde did not ratify this Convention, nor did it develop a national legislation to control OT-AFS. Gemophos viverratus imposex and butyltin tissue contamination were assessed around the São Vicente Island (Cabo Verde) in 2019 and compared with the data available from 2012. The vas deferens sequence index (VDSI), the relative penis length (RPL), the percentage of females with imposex (%I) and the percentage of sterilized females (%S) in 2019 ranged from 0 to 4.0, 0-84.4%, 0-100% and 0-5.1%, respectively, whilst TBT reached maximum values of ≈30 ng TBT-Sn g-1 dw in the whelk tissues. These values are very similar to those registered in 2012, which indicates that TBT pollution has not decreased over the years, in contrast to the declining trend observed worldwide.

Keywords: Butyltins; Cabo Verde; Gemophos viverratus; Imposex; TBT pollution.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cabo Verde
  • Disorders of Sex Development* / chemically induced
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Female
  • Gastropoda*
  • Male
  • Organotin Compounds* / toxicity
  • Trialkyltin Compounds* / toxicity
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

  • Organotin Compounds
  • Trialkyltin Compounds
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical