ASSESSMENT OF TOXICITY AND BIOACCUMULATION OF ORGANOTIN COMPOUNDS

The toxicity of four organotin compounds towards freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna and marine shrimp Artemia franciscana was investigated. Daphnia magna proved to be more sensitive than Artemia franciscana as a test organism in detecting tin toxicity. Tributyltin chloride proved to be the most toxic among all four organotin compounds. Furthermore, trialkyltin compounds were more toxic than dialkyltin compounds. LC50 values for the effect of organotin compounds on Daphnia magna were also determined. Tributyltin chloride had an LC50 value equal to 0.00095 mg/L and dimethyltin dichloride had an LC50 value equal to 19.27 mg/L. The interactive effects between tin and cyanide and tin and beryllium on Artemia franciscana were also investigated.