Butyltins in sediments from Santa Monica and San Pedro basins, California

Butyltins have been measured for the first time in sediments from the deeper waters of the Santa Monica and San Pedro (SM/SP) basins of Southern California borderland. Core samples were collected from water depths ranging from 458 m in the shelf to 906 m in the central basin. Surficial and a few subsurface sections from selected cores were analyzed for butyltins. The dominant components are generally dibutyl and monobutyltins (DBT and MBT, respectively). Microbial degradation of Tributyltin (TBT, the most toxic of the butyltin species) to DBT and MBT during the long range transport to deeper basins, as well as a lack of continuing inputs of TBT in the present times could justify the butyltins signatures found in the region. The levels of butyltins are in the lower range (below detection level, <1, to 14 ng of Sn g(-1)) relative to nearshore sediments. However, the results demonstrate that the butyltins are, indeed, found even in the sediments of the central basins of the Southern California borderland suggesting that deeper global oceanic regimes need to be further investigated for these compounds.     

Variations of physicochemical properties in Kalpakkam coastal waters, east coast of India, during southwest to northeast monsoon transition period

A significant variation in physicochemical properties of the Kalpakkam coastal waters, eastern part of India, was observed during the event of southwest to northeast monsoon transition. Increase in nitrate, total nitrogen, and silicate concentrations were noticed during post-transition period. Ammonia concentration was at peak during transition period as compared to pre- and post-transition periods. Hypo-saline condition (~23 psu) was observed during post-transition as the surface water salinity decreased by ~10 psu from the pre-transitional values. Turbidity, suspended particulate matter, phosphate and total phosphorous values decreased marginally, coinciding with northward to southward current reversal. A drastic decrease (eightfold) in chlorophyll-a concentration was observed in the coastal water during post-transition period.