Accumulation and degradation of organotin compounds in cultivated sporophytes of the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida

Seaweeds could play a significant role in alleviating coastal chemical pollution through accumulation and degradation. In the present study, the accumulation and degradation patterns of triphenyltin chloride (TPTCL) and tributyltin chloride (TBTCL) in young and matured sporophytes of cultivated Undaria pinnatifida were examined under three concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 5 μg L −1 . The growth of young sporophytes was significantly stimulated at 1 μg L −1 , but was suppressed at 5 μg L −1 . Both young and matured sporophytes showed very quick accumulation of TPTCL and TBTCL and four degradation products of diphenyltin chloride (DPTCL), monophenyltin chloride (MPTCL), dibutyltin chloride (DBTCL), and monobutyltin chloride (MBTCL) were detected. The contents of all organotin compounds increased significantly with increasing concentration. TPTCL was more easily accumulated and degraded by U. pinnatifida than TBTCL . Matured sporophytes exhibited greater degradation ability than young sporophytes. The results of this study indicate that U. pinnatifida cultivation is an effective measure to improve coastal organotin pollution. TBTCL is more toxic to U. pinnatifida than TPTCL.