View source for Flame retardants organotin compounds and surfactants in opossum shrimps of the Scheldt estuary.

<u>'''Context of the study'''</u>

[[Flame retardant|Flame retardants]] (like [[PBDE]]s) are used globally and are very persistent when they end up in the environment. [[Surfactant|Surfactants]] (like [[APE]]) have also been widely produced, and most of them end up in the aquatic environment. Together with [[organotin compounds]] (like [[TBT]]), they are often detected at high levels, in estuarine waters all around the world. All three groups might have long term effects on the [[endocrine system]]. It remains uncertain how these compounds transfer to [[Hyperbenthos|hyperbenthic]] communities.<ref name="pub">[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=59683 Verslycke, T.; Vethaak, A.D.; Arijs, K.; Janssen, C.R. (2004). Flame retardants, surfactants and organotins in sediment and mysid shrimp of the Scheldt estuary (The Netherlands). Environ. Poll. 136(1): 19-31]</ref>

<u>'''Content of the study'''</u>

In the Scheldt estuary (one of the most contaminated estuaries in Western Europe), organotin compounds, flame retardants and surfactants were measured in sediments and in opossum shrimp. It was also examined whether the estuarine water, and sediments, showed estrogenic properties (and thus, whether there are contaminants present which could act as estrogens).

[[Image:aasgarnaal.jpg|thumb|right|300px| <div style="text-align: center;">
Oppossum shrimp © © Nancy Fockedey
</div>]]

<u>'''Main results of the study'''</u>

Concentrations of organotin compounds, APEs and PBDEs were high in opossum shrimp (1110 ng/g, 1119 ng/g and 2095 ng/g [[dry weight]] respectively) and lower in the sediments (219 ng/g, not detected and 272 ng/g dry weight respectively). This result indicates that the Scheldt estuary is highly contaminated for organotin compounds (mainly by TBT). This is due to shipping, since TBT is mostly used in [[antifouling paints]]. TBT seems to [[bioaccumulation|accumulate]] in opossum shrimp at a much higher rate than in other species (perhaps due to lower TBT degradation), leading to higher concentrations in opossum shrimp than in  fish. The PBDE concentrations are among the highest in Western Europe, and the values in opossum shrimp are extremely high. This is due to the high concentrations of PBDEs in the estuary (caused by industry in Antwerp, Terneuzen and other cities) and the fact that opossum shrimp eat lots of suspended particulate matter. Since PBDEs are mostly [[adsorption|adsorbed]] to these particles, the shrimp eat high amounts of PBDEs.<P>
The study also showed, that the estuarine water and sediments contains relative high concentrations of substances which act as estrogens. It is suspected that this is due to the 3 groups of contaminants which are discussed . <P>
This study concluded that the concerns about the potential effects of [[endocrine disrupting compounds]] on invertebrates in the Scheldt estuary are justified.
<ref name="pub">[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=59683 Verslycke, T.; Vethaak, A.D.; Arijs, K.; Janssen, C.R. (2004). Flame retardants, surfactants and organotins in sediment and mysid shrimp of the Scheldt estuary (The Netherlands). Environ. Poll. 136(1): 19-31]</ref>
==References==
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{{author
|AuthorID=19826
|AuthorFullName=Daphnis De Pooter
|AuthorName=Daphnisd}}

[[Category:Ecotoxicology]]
[[Category:Coastal and marine pollution]]