Organotin Testing

Organotin compounds are those containing tin and carbon.

There are 4 classes of organotins:

• Mono–organotin compounds containing one carbon group attached to a tin atom and used primarily as heat stabilizers in polyvinylchloride films

• Di-organotin compounds containing two carbon groups attached to a tin atom and primarily used as heat stabilizers in plastics like polyvinylchloride (PVC) and in the manufacturing of polyurethane and silicone curing

• Tri-organotin compounds containing three carbon groups attached to a tin atom and used as biocides for everything from funguses to rats, plants, and in boat paints to prevent the fouling of ship and boat bottoms

• Tetra-organotin compounds containing four carbon groups attached to a tin atom and used primarily to make other organotins

The most toxic of the organotins are the tri-substituted organotins. They are extremely toxic to aquatic life and are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that cause severe reproductive effects in aquatic organisms at relatively low concentrations, as well as neurotoxic and immunotoxic effects in higher animals.

ALS - Columbia has considerable experience analyzing water, porewater, soil, sediment and tissue samples for low level organotins using solvent extraction, derivatization and a gas chromatography flame photometric detector (GC/FPD), consistent with C.A.Krone, et al. and M.O. Stallard, et al.

Learn about organotins in sediment...