Influence of storage conditions on the determination of organotin in mussels

Abstract In order to check the possible occurrence of degradation of tributyltin and triphenyltin in mussel samples during their storage, a 1-year stability study was carried out. Analyses by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were performed on freeze-dried mussel samples stored under different conditions of temperature and light. The results showed that very good stability of butyl- and phenyltins can be achieved when samples are stored at −20°C in the dark. In contrast, samples stored at room temperature showed significant variations in organotin speciation, particularly in the presence of light.