Levels of antifoulant Irgarol 1051 in the Conwy Marina, North Wales.

Irgarol 1051 (2-methylthio-4-tert-butylamino-6-cyclopropylamino-s-triazine) is an antifouling agent used in paint formulations that are applied to the hulls of ships. A survey was carried out at Conwy Marina in North Wales to determine the levels of the herbicide over a period of three months. Liquid/liquid extraction was used to concentrate the analyte for quantitative analysis using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The concentrations of Irgarol 1051 in Conwy marina ranged from 7 to 543 ng/l, similar to the levels found in many other marinas, estuaries and ports in England, although much lower than those in Côte d'Azur, France. The concentrations of Irgarol 1051 were not found to be influenced by salinity, pH or temperature, although there is a strong correlation between the average concentrations of Irgarol 1051 and the density of boating activity. At the levels found in the marina, it is possible that non-target photosynthetic inhibition could occur.