Characterization of the planktonic shrimp, Acetes intermedius, as a potential biomonitor for butyltin.

Acute toxic responses as well as uptake and depuration rates for tributyltin (TBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) were examined in the small planktonic shrimp, Acetes intermedius. The 72-h LC(50) values of TBT and DBT for the shrimp were found to be 18.6 and 82.6 microg L(-1) as tin. The uptake rate constants of TBT and DBT in the shrimp were 0.0006 and 0.0002 L g(-1) h(-1), and the corresponding depuration rate constants were 0.0303 and 0.0106 h(-1), respectively. It appears that real-time ambient TBT pollution status can be more closely reflected in this species. The shrimp may serve as a biomonitor to indicate short-term fluctuations in ambient TBT pollution. A field survey was also conducted to distinguish contrasts in butyltin accumulation under different ambient conditions. These observations provide valuable information for the evaluation of TBT pollution status in the environment using A. intermedius as a biomonitor.