The troublemaker is TBT or tributyltin a marine paint additive used to
prevent barnacle growth on boat-hulls.
TBT is extremely toxic to shellfish and other aquatic life. Among many
marine gastropods it is causing imposex i.e. the females start to develop
pseudo-male reproduction organs and do not reproduce anymore. The problem is
especially prevalent in the vicinity of harbours. Use of TBT is now banned
in many countries and states see for example:
www.edf.org/pubs/EDF-Letter/1987/Apr/k_tbtban.html
Much more worrying are the rumours that TBT is effecting human beings too
(announcement WWF of 11 Sept. 1999) also on the internet but in German:
www.a-site.at/Wissen/messages/206.htm
Henk K. Mienis
E-mail: [log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: Ross Mayhew <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 4:14 AM
Subject: Re: barnacle poisons ("anti-fouling agents") and molluscs


> About a year ago, i read an article about how a certain particularly nasty
> poison used to clear the barnacles off of boat-hulls was killing the
molluscs
> and other invertebrates in many Mediterranian harbours. Does anyone have
an
> update on this?
>
> Gratified to find out the list really DOES have an environmental
conciousness!!,
> Ross.