Chronic exposure effects of tributyltin on Pearl Harbor organisms

Several spec ie s of harbor organisms were exposed i n a chronic, flowthrough experiment t o environmentally r e l evan t t r i b u t y l t i n (TBT) concentrat ions i n t h e range of about 10 t o 100 n g / l i t e r . mean level of exposure (100 n g / l i t e r ) and included depressed condi t ion ind ices of a d u l t oys t e r s (Crassostrea v i r g i n i c a ) and reduced sett lement of two endemic oys t e r species. The set t lement and growth of 15 common foul ing organisms and s u r v i v a l of anchovy b a i t f i s h and portunid crabs were unaffected by a l l TBT exposures. Oysters, anchovies and crabs were sampled pe r iod ica l ly f o r f u t u r e a n a l y s i s of TBT t i s s u e burdens. observat ions from previous s i t e s p e c i f i c flowthrough t e s t s i n P e a r l Harbor t h a t show that chronic exposures t o TBT levels of about 80 t o 100 n g l l i t e r m d higher cause s i g n i f i c a n t d e l e t e r i o u s e f f e c t s on s e n s i t i v e marine epifauna. E f f e c t s were seen only a t t h e highest