Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Organotins in Municipal Wastewater and Sewage Sludge

  • Chapter
Organotin

Abstract

Direct entry of tributyltin (TBT) into the aquatic environment is primarily due to its use in antifouling paints on boats, which gives rise to contamination of waters and sediments of marinas, lakes, and coastal areas. To date, there is a lack of knowledge on other organotin sources and on the contamination of other environmental compartments. Inputs from wastewater and sewage sludge as well as from landfills are not well known. As the consumption of TBT and other organotins increases, these compounds are of growing importance in wastewater and sewage sludge. This chapter reviews speciation and contamination of wastewater and sludge, and describes the fate of organotins in a treatment plant. Organotins were determined by capillary gas chromatography with flame photometric detection after extraction and derivatization. In untreated wastewater of the city of Zurich, Switzerland, substantial concentrations of butyltins were determined. Phenyltins, dioctyltin, and tricyclohexyltin were not detected. Average values on six sampling days were 245 ng l-1 monobutyltin (MBT), 523 ng l-1 dibutyltin (DBT), and 157 ng l-1 TBT. The mean daily load of organotin was 122 g. Partitioning in wastewater showed that ~90% of the butyltins was associated with suspended solids in the influent, and then the percentage dropped at each successive stage of the treatment process. As a consequence, these compounds are removed from raw wastewater by sedimentation in the primary clarifier. Aerobic digestion did not lead to a significant elimination from wastewater, and anaerobic digestion was not very effective in reducing organotins in sludge; hence, substantial organotin levels were determined in digested sludge. Average concentrations were 0.78 mg kg-1 MBT, 0.98 mg kg-1 DBT, and 0.99 mg kg-1 TBT (dry weight). Organotins are therefore efficiently removed from wastewater (elimination 90%), but they become enriched in sewage sludge (daily load 59 g d-1). Sludge is disposed of in landfills and at sea and is used in agriculture as a soil amendment to a large extent, giving a transfer path into the aquatic and terrestrial environment unrecognized thus far. Mono-, di-, and tributyltin residues have also been determined in the leachate of a landfill where the total butyltin concentration was 373 ng l-1. The environmental input from landfills, however, is not as important as that from untreated wastewater and sewage sludge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 429.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aldridge, W.N. and B.W. Street. 1964. Oxidative phosphorylation: biochemical effects and properties of trialkyltins. Biochem. J., 91, 287–297.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alzieu, C. 1986. TBT detrimental effects on oyster culture in France — evolution since antifouling paint regulation. In: Proceedings of the Oceans ’86 Organotin Symposium, Vol. 4. Marine Technology Society, Washington, DC, pp. 1130–1134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alzieu, C. 1991. Environmental problems caused by TBT in France: assessment regulations, prospects. Mar. Environ. Res., 32, 7–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alzieu, C., J. Sanjuan, P. Michel, M. Borel and J. P. Dreno. 1989. Monitoring and assessment of butyltins in Atlantic coastal waters. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 20, 22–26.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alzieu, C., P. Michel, I. Tolosa, E. Bacci, L.D. Mee and J.W. Readman. 1991. Organotin compounds in the Mediterranean: a continuing cause for concern. Mar. Environ. Res., 32, 261–270.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Argaman, Y., C.E. Hucks and S.E. Shelby. 1984. The effects of organotin on the activated sludge process. Water Res., 18, 535–542.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bacci, E. and C. Gaggi. 1989. Organotin compounds in harbour and marina waters from the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 20, 290–292.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barug, D. and J.W. Vonk. 1980. Studies on the degradation of bis(tributyltin) oxide in soil. Pestic. Sci., 11, 77–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, A.R. and M.D. Budd. 1984. High mortality of the larvae of the common mussel at low concentrations of tributyltin. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 15, 402–405.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, A.R. and P.B. Newman. 1986. Low levels of tributyltin reduce growth of marine micro-algae. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 17, 457–461.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Becker-van Slooten, K., L. Merlini, A.M. Stegmueller, L.F. de Alencastro and J. Tarradellas. 1994. Contamination des boues des stations d’épuration suisses par les organoétains. Gas-Wasser-Abwasser, 74, 104–110.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blunden, S.J. 1983. The ultraviolet degradation of the methyltin chlorides in carbon tetrachloride and water. J. Organometal. Chem., 248, 149–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blunden, S.J. and A. Chapman. 1986. Organotin compounds in the environment. In: Organometallic Compounds in the Environment. Principles and Reactions, P.J. Craig (Ed.). Longman Group, Harlow, pp. 111–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boettner, E.A., G.L. Ball, Z. Hollingsworth and R. Aquino. 1981. Organic and Organotin Compounds Leached from PVC and CPVC Pipe. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Report EPA-600-/1–81–062. EPA Health Effects Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, W.B. and C.M. Tu. 1972. Effect of an organotin on microbial activities in soil. Tin, Its Uses, 94, 13–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, G.W., P.E. Gibbs, L.G. Hummerstone and G.R. Burt. 1986. The decline of the gastropod Nucella lapillus around south-west England: evidence for the effect of tributyltin from antifouling paints. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK, 66, 611–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, G.W., P.E. Gibbs, L.G. Hummerstone and G.R. Burt. 1989. Uptake and transformation of 14C labelled tributyltin chloride by the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus: importance of absorption from the diet. Mar. Environ. Res., 28, 241–245.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bushong, S.J., L.W. Hall Jr, W.S. Hall, W.E. Johnson and R.L. Herman. 1988. Acute toxicity of tributyltin to selected Chesapeake Bay fish and invertebrates. Water Res., 22, 1027–1032.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Champ, M.A. and D.F. Bleil. 1988. Research Needs Concerning Organotin Compounds Used in Antifouling Paints in Coastal Environments. Science Applications International Corporation. US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Rockville, Maryland (unpaginated).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chau, Y.K., S. Zhang and R.J. Maguire. 1992. Occurrence of butyltin species in sewage and sludge in Canada. Sci. Total Environ., 121, 271–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, R.B. and M.J. Suess. 1985. The risk to health of chemicals in sewage sludge applied to land. Waste Manage. Res., 3, 251–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donard, O.F.X., P. Quevauviller and A. Bruchet. 1993. Tin and organotin speciation during wastewater and sludge treatment processes. Water Res., 27, 1085–1089.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, C.J. and S. Karpel. 1985. Organotin compounds in modern technology. J. Organometal. Chem., 16, 1–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K. 1989. Organotin speciation in municipal wastewater and sewage sludge: ecotoxicological consequences. Mar. Environ. Res., 28, 477–483.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K. 1992. Embryotoxic effects of tributyltin on the minnow Phoxinus phoxinus. Environ. Pollut., 76, 187–194.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K. 1995. Organotin compounds in municipal wastewater and sewage sludge: contamination, fate in treatment process and ecotoxicological consequences. Sci. Total Environ., in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K. and J. Hunn. 1991. Phenyltins in water, sediment and biota of freshwater marinas. Environ. Sci. Technol., 25, 956–963.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K. and J. Hunn. 1995. Organotins in freshwater harbors and rivers: temporal distribution, annual trend and fate. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 14, 1123–1132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K. and W. Meier. 1992. Tributyltin-induced effects on early life stages of minnows Phoxinus phoxinus. Arch. Environ. Contamin. Toxicol., 22, 428–438.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K. and M.D. Müller. 1991. Occurrence of organotins in municipal wastewater and sewage sludge and behavior in a treatment plant. Environ. Sci. Technol., 25, 489–493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K., R. Fassbind and H. Siegrist. 1989. Organotins in a municipal wastewater treatment plant. In: Proceedings of the 1st European Conference on Ecotoxicology, 17–19 October 1988, H. Lokke, H. Tyle and F. Bro-Rasmussen (Eds). The Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark, pp. 72–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fent, K., J. Hunn, D. Renggli and H.S. Siegrist. 1991. Fate of tributyltin in sewage sludge treatment. Mar. Environ. Res., 32, 223–231.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giger, W., A.C. Alder, P.H. Brunner, A. Marcomini and H. Siegrist. 1989. Behavior of LAS in sewage and sludge treatment and in sludge-treated soil. Tenside Detergents, 26, 95–100.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gile, G.D., J.C. Collins and J.W. Gillet. 1982. Fate and impact of wood preservatives in a terrestrial microcosm. J. Agr. Food Chem., 30, 295–301.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guard, H.E., A.B. Cobet and W.M. Coleman, III. 1981. Science, 213, 770–771.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, L. W., Jr and E.A. Pinkney. 1985. Acute and sublethal effects of organotin compounds on aquatic biota: an interpretative literature evaluation. CRC Crit. Rev. Toxicol., 14, 159–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koch, J. and K. Figge. 1971. Migration of tin-stabilizers from PVC-bottles into beer. Z. Lebensm. Unters. For., 147, 8–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Komatsu, Y., T. Namiki and F. Mori. 1970. Extractability of dialkyltin compounds from rigid poly (vinyl chloride) containers. Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi, 11, 17–22.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laughlin, R.B., Jr and W. French. 1988. Concentration dependence of bis(tributyl)tin oxide accumulation in the mussel, Mytilus edulis. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 7, 1021–1026.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laughlin, R.B., Jr and O. Linden. 1985. Fate and effects of organotin compounds. Ambio, 14, 88–95.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laughlin, R.B., Jr, H.E. Guard and W.M. Coleman, III. 1986. Tributyltin in seawater speciation and octanol-water partition coefficient. Environ. Sci. Technol., 20, 201–204.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawler, I.F. and J.C. Aldrich. 1987. Sublethal effects of bis(tri-n-butyltin) oxide on Crassostrea gigas spat. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 18, 274–278.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, G. 1986. Organometallic compounds in polymers — their interactions with the environment. In: Organometallic Compounds in the Environment. Principles and Reactions, P.J. Craig (Ed.). Longman, Harlow, pp. 308–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, R.J. 1987. Review: environmental aspects of tributyltin. Appl. Organometal. Chem., 1, 475–498.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, R.J. and R.J. Tkacz. 1985. Degradation of the tri-n-butyltin species in water and sediment from Toronto Harbor. J. Agr. Food Chem., 33, 947–953.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marcomini, A., P.D. Capel, W. Giger and H. Häni. 1988. Residues of detergent-derived organic pollutants and polychlorinated biphenyls in sludge-amended soil. Naturwissenschaften, 75, 460–462.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meinema, H.A., T.G. Dam-Meerbeek and J.V. Vonk. 1982. Evaluation of the Impact of Organotin Compounds on the Aquatic Environment. Institute of Applied Chemistry TNO, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 126 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, M.D. 1987. Comprehensive trace level determination of organotin compounds in environmental samples using high-resolution gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. Anal. Chem., 59, 617–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randall, L. and J.H. Weber. 1986. Adsorptive behavior of butyltin compounds under simulated estuarine conditions. Sci. Total Environ., 57, 191–203.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritsema, R., R.W.P.M. Laane and O.F.X. Donard. 1991. Butyltins in marine waters of the Netherlands in 1988 and 1989: concentrations and effects. Mar. Environ. Res., 32, 243–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schebek, L., M.O. Andreae and H.J. Tobschall. 1991. Methyl- and butyltin compounds in water and sediments of the Rhine river. Environ. Sci. Technol., 25, 871–878.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, P.F., A.O. Valkirs and R.F. Lee. 1986. Degradation of tributyltin in San Diego Bay, California, waters. Environ. Sci. Technol., 20, 1229–1235.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, P.F., J.G. Grovhoug, A.O. Valkirs, P.M. Stang, R. Fransham, M.O. Stallard, B. Davidson and R.F. Lee. 1989. Distribution and fate of tributyltin in the United States marine environment. Appl. Organometal. Chem., 3, 31–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Snoeij, N.J., A.H. Penninks and W. Seinen. 1988. Dibutyltin and tributyltin compounds induce thymus atrophy in rats due to a selective action on thymic lymphoblasts. Int. J. Immunopharmacol., 10, 891–899.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siegrist, H., A.C. Adler, P.H. Brunner and N.W. Giger. 1989. Pathway analysis of selected organic chemicals from sewage to agricultural soil. In: Sludge Treatment and Use: New Developments, Technological Aspects and Environmental Effects, A.H. Dirkzwager and P.L. L’Hermite (Eds). Elsevier Applied Science, London, pp. 133–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thain, J.E. 1986. Toxicity of TBT to bivalves: effects of reproduction, growth and survival. In: Proceedings of the Oceans ’86 Organotin Symposium, Vol. 4, Marine Technology Society, Washington, DC, pp. 1306–1313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J.A.J., M.G. Sheffer, R.C. Pierce, Y.K. Chau, J.J. Cooney, W.R. Cullen and R.J. Maguire. 1985. Organotin Compounds in the Aquatic Environment: Scientific Criteria for Assessing Their Effects on Environmental Quality. National Research Council of Canada, NRCC Associate Committee on Scientific Criteria for Environmental Quality, Ottawa, 284 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Unger, M.A., W.G. MacIntyre and R.J. Huggett. 1988. Sorption behavior of tributyltin on estuarine and freshwater sediments. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 7, 907–915.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U’ren, S.C. 1983. Acute toxicity of bis(tributyltin) oxide to a marine copepod. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 14, 303–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valkirs, A.O., P.F. Seligman and R.F. Lee. 1986. Butyltin partitioning in marine waters and sediments. In: Proceedings of the Oceans ’86 Organotin Symposium, Vol. 4, Marine Technology Society, Washington, DC, pp. 1165–1170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valkirs, A.O., P.F. Seligman, P.M. Stang, V. Homer, S.H. Lieberman, G. Vafa and C.A. Dooley. 1986. Measurement of butyltin compounds in San Diego Bay. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 17, 319–324.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, G.E., L.L. McLaughlan, E.M. Lores, M.K. Louie and C.H. Deans. 1985. Effects of organotins on growth and survival of two marine diatoms, Skeletonema costatum and Thalassiosira pseudonata. Chemosphere, 14, 383–392.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wester, P.W. and J.H. Canton. 1987. Histopathological study of Poecelia reticulata (guppy) after long-term exposure to bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) and di-n-butyltindichloride (DBTC). Aquat. Toxicol., 10, 143–165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitelaw, K. and M.J. Andrews. 1988. The effects of sewage sludge disposal to sea — the outer Thames Estuary, UK. Water Sci. Technol., 20, 183–191.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. 1980. Tin and Organotin Compounds — A Preliminary Review. Environmental Health Criteria 15. Geneva. 109 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. 1990. International programme on chemical safety. Environmental Health Criteria, 116. In: Tributyltin Compounds. Geneva, Switzerland, 273 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, W., R.S. Roberts, Y.C. Chung, W.R. Ernst and S.C. Havlicek. 1989. The extraction of organotin compounds from polyvinyl chloride pipe. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 18, 839–843.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, J.J., R.P. Reisdorf, H.V. Ellis and R.R. Wilkinson. 1978. In: Organometals and Organometalloids: Occurrence and Fate in the Environment, F.E. Brinckman and J.M. Bellama (Eds). American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp. 388–424.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG), CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Karl Fent

  2. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Karl Fent

Authors
  1. Karl Fent
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Texas Engineering Experiment Station, Washington, DC Office, Texas A&M University System, 4601 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 1130, 22203, Arlington, Virginia, USA

    Michael A. Champ

  2. Naval Command, Control, and Ocean Surveillance Center, RDT&E Division, Environmental Sciences, US Navy, 92152-6335, San Diego, California, USA

    Peter F. Seligman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Chapman & Hall

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fent, K. (1996). Organotins in Municipal Wastewater and Sewage Sludge. In: Champ, M.A., Seligman, P.F. (eds) Organotin. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1507-7_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1507-7_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-412-58240-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1507-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation