Tributyltin chloride, toxicity

In terms of ability to affect normal development of embryos of tbe horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), mercury - as the acetate or chloride - was the most toxic metal tested followed in decreasing order by tributyltin chloride, hexavalent chromium, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc. Mercury was associated with a high frequency of segment-defective embryos and could be replicated with SH inhibitors, and by compounds inhibiting SH-SS exchange. 

CAUTION Tributyltin chloride is toxic and the resulting tributylaryl stannane is also potentially toxic. Appropriate safety precautions should be taken during all stages of handling and disposal. 

Among these, carboxylic acid esters have gained importance in the field of wood preservation, because they are of lower volatility and water-solubility, but higher thermal stability than TBTO. From comparison data it can be concluded that the tributyltin (TBT) moiety of the TBT esters determines their antimicrobial effectiveness and also their oral toxicity. This is in line with the fact that the TBT esters tend to dissociated into the hydrated TBT cation and the respective anion. Due to the lower TBT content compared with TBTO greater quantities of TBT carboxylic acid ester therefore have to be used to achieve sufficient antimicrobial effectiveness. Hydrohalide acid esters of practical importance as microbicides have been tributyltin fluoride (19.6.6.) and triphenyltin chloride (19.6.7.). 

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