Monitoring the Organotin Contamination in the Taihu Lake of China by Bivalve Mussel Anodonta woodiana

As a part of the pilot study on “Freshwater Mussel Watch”, butyltin (monobutyltin, MBT; dibutyltin, DB; tributyltin, TBT), and phenyltins (monophenyltin, MPT; diphenyltin DPT; triphenyltin TPT) were analyzed in soft tissues of 15 bivalve mussels Anodonta woodiana sampled from five separate sites (Huzhou, Xueyan, Dapu, Sansandao, and Wulihu) around the Taihu Lake of China in 2004. The residue of total butyltins and total phenyltins in the all mussels ranged 142–1693 and 3.0–90 ng Sn g−1 dry weight, respectively. Except for the mussels from Xueyan, DBT and MBT accounted more than 60% of total butyltins in those from other four sites. In contrast, TPT were usually almost 100% of the mussels studied. The present study provides most recent information about the organotin contamination in the Taihu Lake, and suggests Anodonta woodiana can be used as a suitable bioindicator.