Analysis of Butyltin Compounds and New Antifouling Agentsin the Southwestern Korean Tidal Flats

Abstract

The prohibition of usage of tributyltin (TBT) compounds and the legal usage of new antifouling agents have changed the Korean costal environments in recent. 39 sampling sites of southwestern tidal flats were chosen in order to investigate the concentration of antifouling agents, and results in 2006 were compared with previous results in 1998. The concentrations of TBT compounds in most of sites except Incheon (It1) have been drastically decreased. Interestingly, In Jebudo (Jt2), Mokpo(MOt4) and Suncheon(SUt3) sites were detected as below the limit of detection and it is because of the legal restriction of TBT compounds. However, in most of the sampling sites in Korea, new antifouling agents, viz. Irgarol 1051, Dichlofluanid and Chlo- rothalonil, were detected. In particular, Irgarol 1051 was detected with high concentrations. In Jebudo (Jt4), a high concentration of Irgarol 1051 of 159.45 ng g'(dry wt) was detected. We were able to observe that the con- centration of TBT compounds are has gradually been reduced whereas the new major antifouling agents are eas- ily detected in most Korean tidal flats.