Background
Organotin compounds (OTCs) are organic derivatives of tin (Sn) used in the plastics and communication industries, and as antifouling agents in agriculture. Some OTCs have been shown to produce endocrine disrupting effects in aquatic species and rodent models, raising concern for effects on human reproduction and development. Little is known about exposure levels in women of reproductive age.
Objective
To collect pilot data on levels of OTCs and total Sn among Danish women of reproductive age.
Methods
Serum, whole blood, and urine samples were collected pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy from 55 women participating in the Snart-Forældre/Milieu (Soon-Parents/Environment) Study between November 2011 and May 2012. Six OTC species were measured in 47 serum samples using mass spectrometry (monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT), monophenyltin (MPT), diphenyltin (DPT), and triphenyltin (TPT)). In addition, the concentration of total Sn was determined in serum (n = 47), whole blood (n = 10), and urine (n = 29) study samples by mass spectrometry.
Results
The frequency of detection above the experimental level of quantitation (ELOQ) was 0% for MPT, TPT, DPT, and TBT, 2.1% for DBT, and 10.6% for MBT. Total Sn levels were above the limit of detection (LOD) in 100% of serum (median 1.51 ng/mL, average 1.86 ng/mL; n = 47) and whole blood (median 1.70 ng/mL, average 1.79 ng/mL; n = 10) samples. Total Sn concentrations were lower in urine samples compared with the blood-based measures.
Conclusions
OTCs were not readily detected in serum collected from Danish women of reproductive age. Total Sn concentrations, which include organic and inorganic species, were also low, suggesting the results of OTC analyses are not due to metabolic conversions or analyte stability issues.
National Toxicology Program (NTP). 2016. NTP research report on organotin and total tin levels in Danish women of reproductive age. Research Triangle Park, NC: National Toxicology Program. Research Report 2. https://doi.org/10.22427/NTP-RR-2