Tributyltin (TBT) in marine sediments from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Created 23/06/2025

Updated 23/06/2025

Triplicate sediment samples were collected on SCUBA from 3 sites near Scott Base (SB1, SB2, SB3), 2 sites near McMurdo Station (MM-0, MM-1), 1 site at Cape Armitage (CA), 1 site at Cape Evans (CE) and 1 site near Turtle Rock.The top 3 cm of sediment was collected from depths between 18 and 25 m, within a 20 metre radius of each site and stored frozen. Samples were later freeze dried, coarse sieved and the 0-1 cm fraction ground. Each sample was digested by sonication for 2 hours in 0.5 M HCl/methanol and centrifuged at 2000g. A subsample of the supernatent was ethylated using sodium tetraethylborate and captured on traps filled with Tenax®. The ethylated butyltin species was thermally desorbed from the Tenax® and analysed using quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. This research was undertaken to determine whether the biocide, butyltin (TBT, DBT and MBT), a component of anti-fouling paint, occurred in nearshore sediments in the vicinity of the scientific bases, Scott Base (NZ) and McMurdo Station (US) and less impacted sites at Cape Armitage, Turtle Rock and Cape Evans. These contaminants had not previously been documented from this region. The most likely source of these biocides is abrasion of antifouling paint from the hulls of icebreaker ships.Other contaminants found at these sites are described in the metadata record:Contaminants in marine sediments, sponges and bivalves from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Files and APIs

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Tributyltin (TBT) in marine sediments from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/2de080dc-c523-40ea-b3ca-257f9a8bb301
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
reception@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 20/11/2017
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    166.659333,
    -77.850333
  ],
  "type": "Point"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Tributyltin (TBT) in marine sediments from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/tributyltin-tbt-in-marine-sediments-from-mcmurdo-sound-antarctica1