National Pollutant Inventory

Substances

Organo-tin compounds: Sources of emissions

Industry sources

Organotin compounds may be released from industrial manufacture facilities (in industrial effluent or to air) or from spraying in agricultural applications.

Diffuse sources, and industry sources included in diffuse emissions data

Triorganotins may enter waterways from antifouling coatings, molluscicide formulations for the control of snails, by spraying of agricultural biocides and by soil leaching from fields sprayed with biocides. Biocidal applications are the major contributors to organotin compounds in the environment.

Natural sources

Organotin compounds are not found naturally.

Transport sources

Antifouling coatings on boats and other vessels.

Consumer products

Some antifouling paints, some fungicides, some bactericides, some products containing PVC plastic (e.g. PVC food-packaging) may contain organotin compounds.

Key

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Factory. Credit: Michael Lindquist