Accession Number:

ADA191574

Title:

Tributyltin Effects on Juvenile Mussel Growth.

Descriptive Note:

Professional paper for period ending Sep 87,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL OCEAN SYSTEMS CENTER SAN DIEGO CA

Personal Author(s):

• Salazar, Michael H.
• Salazar, Sandra M.

Report Date:

1987-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

8.0

Abstract:

Juvenile mussels Mytilus edulis less than 20mm were exposed to three concentrations of tributylin TBT in two site specific, flow-through bioassays with unfiltered seawater. Mean TBT concentrations were 70, 80 and 200 ngl in Test I 196 days and 40, 50 and 160 ngl in Test II 56 days. Treatments did not significantly affect juvenile mussel growth during the first 56 days of exposure in either test. After 63 days, all treatments significantly reduced growth in Test I. No significant mortalities occurred at any TBT concentration in either test. Increases in weights and lengths of Tank control animals in Test II were much greater than during the first 56 days of Test I. Further, weight increases in the Pier Control were almost four times greater than in the Tank Controls during Test II. These data suggest that test animals were probably under significant stress induced by the bioassay test system. The data also suggest that the effects of TBT on juvenile mussel growth may have been overestimated in this and other studies. Keywords Portable environmental test system, Estuarine environment, Organotin painted vessels.

Descriptors:

• *MUSSELS
• *ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
• *TIN COMPOUNDS
• *WATER POLLUTION
• *ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
• BIOASSAY
• BUTANES
• CONTROL
• ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS
• ENVIRONMENTS
• ESTUARIES
• LABORATORY ANIMALS
• PAINTS
• PIERS
• REDUCTION
• SEA WATER
• SITES
• WEIGHT
• GROWTH(PHYSIOLOGY)

Subject Categories:

• Water Pollution and Control

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE