WP6 Emerging Pollutants
Wednesday, 16 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM in Exhibit Hall

(MAX-1117-816546) Distribution of Irgarol 1051 and M1 in biotic and abiotic samples around the Florida coast.

Maxey, C¹, Zamora, I², Gardinali, P^{1, 3}, ¹ Department of Chemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA² Department of Environmental Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA³ Southeastern Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

ABSTRACT- Antifouling booster biocides used in copper based marine paints are becoming a topic of increasing environmental importance due to the recent 2003 ban on tributyltin compounds. Surface water samples were collected during 2002 through early 2005 from large marinas (greater than 80 wet slips) along the majority of the Florida coast and the Florida Keys to determine the distribution of Irgarol 1051 and M1, its major degradation product. Beginning in 2004, seagrass and sediment samples were collected in conjunction with the surface water from Key Largo Harbor. In addition to the marina studies, surface water samples were taken from various coral reef habitats around the Florida Keys. Two study areas (Key Largo Harbor and Biscayne Bay) were frequently visited to determine if there were any temporal trends of the analytes. Concentrations of the target compounds ranged from non-detect (less than 1 ppt) to 1238 ppt for Irgarol and 428 ppt for M1. Concentrations in surface waters from marinas were considerably higher (average of 134.9 ± 21.0 ppt for Irgarol and 59.96 ± 10.65 ppt for M1) than in open water reef sites (all of which were non-detects). Seagrass samples had an average concentration of 8.680 ± 1.367 ppt for Irgarol, while M1 concentrations were below the method detection limits. Bioconcentration factors of Irgarol for seagrasses were calculated to be an average of 897 ± 183. Concentrations of analytes in sediments were minimal in all samples (less than 10 ppt). Although Irgarol is present 75% of the samples (269/359), the concentrations are less than those found along the coast of Europe and Asia.

Key words: Irgarol, M1, bioaccumulation, antifouling