Organic Chemistry: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Tributyltin and its Derivative in Water Samples of National Inland Water Way Authority Harbour of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

Ogbomida ET and Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye

Surface water samples were collected and analyzed to evaluate the fate of tributyltin (TBT) and its derivatives dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) from National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) Harbour, using gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) with detection limit of 0.001 μg/l. The concentrations were in the range of TBT (0.01 μg/l to 0.05 μg/l), DBT (0.01 μg/l to 0.03 μg/l) and MBT (0.01 μg/l to 0.02 μg/l). The total butyltin concentration ranged from 0.04 μg/l to 0.09 μg/l. TBT was generally dominant in most of the samples, suggesting fresh inputs of tributyltin compounds and/or less degradation of TBT. The measured mean concentrations in surface water samples exceeded the ecotoxicological benchmark of 0.01 μg/l recommended by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) indicative of potential environmental risk. This survey provides baseline data on tributyltin compound contamination in National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) Harbour and suggests further environmental monitoring of other Nigeria harbours.