Assessing impacts of tributyltin (TBT) on multiple coastal uses

Antifouling paints are applied on the hulls of the ships and boats to control the growth of foulant organisms and to reduce their deleterious effects such as the slowing of the ship speed,the increasing of fuel consumption, the increasing of maintenance costs, etc. TBT paints replaced copper-based paints due to a superior performance in terms of efficacy and duration. However, TBT has been described as the most toxic substance ever introduced in marine environment. The high toxicity of TBT together with its tendency to be accumulated in marine organisms can produce heavy damage in marine organisms. International Marine Organization (IMO) at a convention, approved of the resolution, which includes complete prohibition of organotin compounds in anti-fouling systems by 2008. Signature of about 25 nations whose combined flagged fleet equals 25 % of the world fleet is necessary for the convention to come into force. However, concerns have been raised that the hostility towards the use of TBT appears to be based on a very biased assessment. Environmental benefits of TBT have been ignored and little thought has been given to a technical rather than a legislative solution to control TBT inputs to the environment. Long-term biocidal properties of existing alternatives are largely untested as also their environmental impacts. The indicator used for determining environmental impacts such as imposex has been challenged by scientists. The project will study implications of TBT pollution and its ban, costs and benefits of TBT based antifoulants and other alternatives, suggest alternative antifouling strategies, develop tools for monitoring and managing environmental impacts of organotin compounds and raise awareness towards this. It will develop a biomonitoring system to regulate TBT impacts that exist in coastal environments.