You Yours wrote:...an old timer with his words of wisdom advised me. ...He said it was the greatest coating...Tri-Buellton Tin Paint. I asked him where you could get this paint, and he said: you might find it in a foreign paint store, but it was outlawed in this country. I said OH! OK then. The old timer then told me how he just goes to the paint store, and picks up several bottles of that Mildaside conditioner for painting inside walls subject to mold and dampness. I asked why, and he said: Because it is Tri Buellton Tin in condensed form. I used his potion.......
OK, what you have stated is simply wrong, both factually and environmentally, and you need to be stopped before you advise any other person.
I'm not a tree-hugging vigilante, but this is beyond the pale. That stuff was removed for a bloody good reason, and by continuing to use TBT (
against the law) your are recklessly placing our once beautiful waters and wildlife even more at risk than they already are, and killing untolled amounts of sea life.
You and your elderly friend are
directly killing our fish, oysters, scallops, dolphins and Lord knows what else, for generations to come. Crikey... why the h*ll do you think they've banned it?
Our lakes and rivers are a gift from God... the responsible boater treats them with love and care, never polluting needlessly.
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Tributyl Tin (aka "Tributyltin", TBT)
This substance has been declared, by the California Department of Fish and Game, to be "the most toxic substance ever released in the marine environment." This substance, which can be
toxic in concentrations as low as 50 parts per trillion in water, is found in marine paints and antifouling coatings."
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Tributyl tin (TBT) has been used as an anti-fouling biocide and as a fungicide in paints. It is a restricted use pesticide in the United States (Wisconsin,IPCM, Exits DNR).
Health Effects:
Ecological Effects: TBT is extremely toxic to aquatic life and is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that causes severe reproductive effects in aquatic organisms. TBT is extremely stable and resistant to natural degradation in water. Because of its chemical properties and widespread use as an antifouling agent, concerns have been raised over the risks it poses to both freshwater and saltwater organisms. January 5, 2004 EPA published in the Federal Register a final ambient acute and chronic water quality criteria document for tributyltin (TBT). Canada has been conducting research to characterize the occurrence, persistence and fate of TBT in the Great Lakes (EPA Binational Strategy Website, Exits DNR)
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TBT and anti-fouling paints
Approximately 69% of marine vessels still receive applications of TBT (tributylin tin) containing antifouling paints (Ambrose, 1994 - Minch review p. 19.5). However, the UK introduced restrictions on certain paints in 1985 and in 1987 all uses of TBT preparations were prohibited excepting those paints with low concentrations used for commercial shipping (GESAMP, 1990).
Historically copper was the active agent in anti-fouling marine paints, but in the 1960s TBT was introduced and was found to be extremely effective in suppressing the growth of weeds and encrusting animals on ships. The use of TBT was not confined to marine vessels. Jetties and harbours were also treated and the use of anti-fouling paints containing TBT was common on salmon farms in the 1980s, when the fish cage structures and the nets were treated to prevent the growth of marine plants and animals.
Initially laboratory tests suggested that since it degrades quickly, any side effects would be minimal (GESAMP, 1990). Unfortunately, the substances in the paints can leach into the water and have a deleterious effect upon shellfish, salmon farms and the marine environment at very low concentrations. The first problems were encountered in France where oysters (Crassostrea gigas) began to show serious shell deformations and the spatfall of this species and of the European Flat Oyster (Ostrea edulis) was seriously reduced (GESAMP, 1990). The problem was traced to the nearby marina and the large number of pleasure craft which were treated with TBT anti-fouling paints.
Oysters are not the only marine organism to be affected by TBT. Minchin et al (1987) carried out a study on the west coast of Eire on the possible effects of TBT on Scallop (Pecten maximus) recruitment. They found that the adult population of the scallop had declined in an area close to a salmon farm. This reduction and the associated dramatic decrease in recruitment was linked to the first introduction and subsequent increased use of organotin net-dips on salmonid farms.
Use of TBT was halted in 1985 and in 1986 settlement of scallops had increased. High levels of TBT were also found in other areas such as Cork Harbour, a major yachting centre. It was suggested that the reappearance of scallop settlements reflected the discontinuation of the use of organotin net-dips and the Irish ban on organotin antifouling paints in 1982. This is particularly relevant since the study area is comparable to the coastline of the Minch area with similar forms of aquaculture in place.
In 1987 DAFS (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Scotland) carried out a study on the accumulation of tin and tributylin in muscle tissue of farmed Atlantic salmon. This was also related to the use of antifouling paints containing TBT applied to netting cages in Scotland. It was successfully demonstrated that salmon accumulate increased levels of tin in various organs when exposed to low concentrations of TBT in solution (Davies & McKie, 1987).
Fortunately, recent monitoring has shown significant drops in TBT levels in affected areas due to the UK ban on the product on vessels less than 25m. However, sites close to busy harbours such as Kyle of Lochalsh, Plockton, Stornoway and Kinlochbervie are still showing significant levels of TBT contamination (Hunter & Gillespie, 1992) There have also been calls by environmental pressure groups such as Greenpeace Scotland and the World Wide Fund for Nature UK Marine Program for a complete worldwide ban on TBT products in shipping. A statement from WWF said;
"The effect of these chemicals on marine wildlife has been reported for over 20 years and now we are seeing sea otters dying; dolphins and seals' lives are been poisoned." (Macfarlane, 1998 - Scotland on Sunday, Nov 1 p3)"
