Análise espaço-temporal do imposex no gastrópode Stramonita haemastoma na área sob influência do Porto do Mucuripe, Fortaleza, Ceará

Abstract

Organotin compounds such as Tributyltin (TBT) and Triphenyltin (TPT), have been widely used as antifouling paints in ships and other vessels to avoid the growth of algae, barnacles and other organisms that fix in the hulls of ships. However, these compounds can bioaccumulate to in gastropod molluscs and cause imposex phenomenon which is characterized by the appearance of male structures as penis and vas deferens in females. Due to the high toxicity of organotin compounds, in 2003, began the process of international ban these compounds and, in September 2008, its use in antifouling paints was definitely forbidden. In order to verify the occurrence of temporal and spatial variation in levels of imposex after the global ban, individuals of the species Stramonita haemastoma were analyzed in 13 points from the area under the influence of the harbor of Fortaleza, in the years 2004/2005, 2010/2011 and 2013. Quantification was performed using the imposex indices RPLI (relative penis length index), VDSI (vas deferent sequence index) and FPL (female penis lenght). Eight points were found with reduced levels supporting the worldwide ban of TBT in antifouling paints. However, there are also three points with higher contamination in 2013, probably due to dredging or the new input of contaminants. Among them is the beach Sabiaguaba showing increased spatial imposex in coastal of Fortaleza. Thus, is need the continuous monitoring of the area under the influence of the harbor Mucuripe for to observe temporal and spatial changes of imposex and verify the effectiveness of the worldwide ban on the use of organotin compounds as anti-fouling paints.