Due to the extensive use of organotin compounds (OTCs) in numerous human activities, large amounts have been introduced to various ecosystems. Several appear on the priority pollutant lists of the European Union and the International Maritime Organization has called for a global treaty to ban the application of tributyltin antifouling paints. A decade later and significant concentrations of OTCs are still being detected in water, sediments, biota and soil. This paper initially reviews OTCs in the environment and pathways for human exposure and presents an assessment of monitoring and detection. The efficiency and feasibility of both biological and physiochemical remediation strategies for organotin pollution are also critically reviewed with a particular focus on tributyltin.

Tributyltin (TBT) is one of the most toxic anthropogenic compounds introduced into the marine environment. Despite its global ban in 2008, TBT is still a problem of great concern due to its high affinity for particulate matter, providing a direct and potentially persistent route of entry into benthic sediments. Bioremediation strategies may constitute an alternative approach to conventional physicochemical methods, benefiting from the microorganism’s potential to metabolize anthropogenic compounds. In this work, a simple, precise and accurate static headspace gas chromatography method was developed to investigate the ability of TBT degrading microbes in sedimentary microcosms over a period of 120 days. The proposed method was validated for linearity, repeatability, accuracy, specificity, limit of detection and limit of quantification. The method was subsequently successfully applied for the detection and quantification of TBT and degradation compounds in sediment samples on day 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 of the experiment employing the principles of green chemistry. On day 120 the concentration of TBT remaining in the microcosms ranged between 91.91 ng/g wet wt for the least effective microbial inoculant to 52.73 ng/g wet wt for the most effective microbial inoculant from a starting concentration of 100 ng/g wet wt.

Tributyltin (TBT) is a synthetic organotin compound and is recognised as the most toxic chemical ever knowingly introduced into the marine environment. Organotins have a wide range of application with an estimated global production of 50,000 tons per year therefore impacts from TBT can be seen or anticipated in many environments including protected areas like aqua farms and world heritage sites effecting aquaculture and undisturbed ecosystems. Due to the impact of TBT a necessity exists for the treatment of contaminated sediment and soil using nature-based solutions as it is both non-invasive and sustainable. However these remediation techniques must also be economically interesting to increase its acceptance. Thus using the biomass from plant species with the ability to cultivate in dredged sediment for biofuel and biomaterials production should be considered to ensure that renewable energy consumption of 10% is meet by 2020. The objectives of this study is to investigate the potential of Hordeum vulgare and Brassica napus to cultivate in marine sediments despite the salinity and TBT pollution for a 30 day pot trial. Further to inoculate seedling roots with known TBT degrading bacteria to enhance the phytoremediation capacity. Also to establish if bacterial isolates C7 and C22 are plant growth promoting bacteria. Statistical analysis on seedlings biomass was carried out followed by analytical analyses by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and sediment analysis by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed a maximum decrease of ≥ 82% and ≥ 80% of TBT in sediment samples respectively with bacteria inoculum C7 (KX881905) and C22 (KX881904), further Hordeum vulgare seedlings were the ideal candidate plant species with a significant production of biomass.

Tributyltin (TBT) is one of the most toxic anthropogenic compounds introduced into the marine environment. Despite its global ban in 2008, TBT is still a problem of great concern due to its high affinity for particulate matter, providing a direct and potentially persistent route of entry into benthic sediments. Bioremediation strategies may constitute an alternative approach to conventional physicochemical methods, benefiting from the microorganism’s potential to metabolize anthropogenic compounds. In this work, a simple, precise and accurate static headspace gas chromatography method was developed to investigate the ability of TBT degrading microbes in sedimentary microcosms over a period of 120 days. The proposed method was validated for linearity, repeatability, accuracy, specificity, limit of detection and limit of quantification. The method was subsequently successfully applied for the detection and quantification of TBT and degrading compounds in sediment samples on day 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 of the experiment employing the principles of green chemistry. On day 120 the concentration of TBT remaining in the microcosms ranged between 91.91 ng/g wet wt for the least effective microbial inoculant to 52.73 ng/g wet wt for the most effective microbial inoculant from a stating concentration of 100 ng/g wet wt.