Acute toxicity tributyltin oxide

U ren, S.C. 1983. Acute toxicity of bis(tributyltin)oxide to a marine copepod. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 14 303-306. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 1986. Initiation of a special review of certain pesticide products containing tributyltins used as antifoulants availability of support document. Federal Register 51(5) 778-779. 

There is a listing of dermal LDso values in animals for a number of organotin compounds (Smith 1978). A dermal LDso in rabbits was reported to be 11,700 mg/kg bis(tributyltin)oxide (Elsea and Paynter 1958). For rats, an LDso of 605 mg/kg is given (Smith 1978). Despite variations in values for other compounds such as benzoates, naphthenates, and fluorides, the acute dermal toxicity of organotin compounds is generally less than by the oral route. The LDso values for representative species in the acute- and intermediate-duration category are recorded in Table 2-4. Doses are expressed as mg/kg/day compound rather than as doses of tin. 

The main compounds used worldwide to control fouling are organotins as tributyltin oxide (TBTO see Figure 12.1a). They are effective at preventing fouling, but they cause widespread environmental problems due to their persistence in the environment and their toxic effects such as acute toxicity, bioaccumulation, decreased reproductive viability, and increased shell thickness in shellfish. 

---