PARENT SESSION
PT1 - Aquatic Toxicology
Tuesday, 19 November 2002
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall
(P477) SUBLETHAL EFFECTS OF ANTIFOULING BIOCIDES.
REITSEMA, Tarren1, GAGNON, Marthe Monique*,1, 1 Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
ABSTRACT- Since the 1970s, tributyltin (TBT) has been widely used as a biocide in antifouling paints. However, toxic effects on non-target organisms have brought about a global ban on the application of TBT-based antifouling paints, effective from January 2003. As a consequence, the search is on for equally effective, yet environmentally acceptable alternatives. Two of the more prominent alternatives are Sea-nine® and Diuron. Sea-nine has recently been developed and is already registered at the National Registration Authority for use in one product. Diuron is currently used in 20 registered antifouling paints in Australia; its traditional usage has been as a herbicide in agriculture. For both of these compounds, little is known about their chronic, sublethal effects on marine organisms. This is of concern, particularly given that TBT was banned mainly on the basis of sublethal effects on molluscs. This project aims to investigate the toxicity of these 2 biocides on two representative Australian marine organisms; the mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the pink snapper (Pagrus auratus). Our first objective is to define adverse effects of Sea-nine and Diuron on mussels and juvenile pink snapper, in terms of metabolic disturbances (metabolic enzymes), ability to detoxify contaminants (MFO activity), and genotoxicity (DNA damage). The measurement of these biomarkers will assist environmental managers in identifying the risks associated with the use of these biocides. The experiment identifies a suite of biomarkers of exposure and effects to establish the impacts of chronic, low level exposure of aquatic animals to these biocides. Finally, the experiment investigates the potential for bioaccumulation of these biocides in mussels and juvenile pink snapper. Results of this project will assist in the decision-making process for registration and use of antifouling paints that are environmentally acceptable.
Key words: antifouling, TBT alternatives, Diuron, sea-nine