Phenyltins in Surface Sediments of the Visakhapatnam Harbour, India

Twenty-two surface sediment samples were collected from Visakhapatnam harbour, east coast of India, and analysed for monophenyltin (MPT), diphenyltin (DPT), triphenyltin (TPT), total bacteria, and TPT tolerant bacteria. Concentrations of MPT, DPT and TPT varied between 1–26, 3–28, and 0.31–145 ng Sn g−1 dry wt, respectively. Phenyltin concentrations were influenced by ship related activities, agricultural waste and sewage. These phenyltin concentrations indicate sediments are contaminated. Abundance of TPT tolerant bacteria was strongly influenced by the levels of phenyltins.