Sammendrag
The banning of organotin biocides, such as tributyltin (TBT), from use in marine antifouling paints is now
leading to reproductive health recovery in marine gastropod populations all over the world. TBT induces socalled
imposex (superimposition of male sexual characters onto females) in certain marine gastropods, such as
the common dogwhelk Nucella lapillus. In this publication, the results of the Norwegian TBT and imposex
monitoring in N. lapillus from the period 1991-2017 are presented. Significantly higher levels of TBT and imposex
were measured in coastal areas close to shipping lanes along most of the coast prior to 2008 than afterwards.
Levels started declining after restrictions were imposed on the use of TBT in all antifouling paint applications,
with a total ban in 2008. In 2017, no sign of imposex was found in N. lapillus in any of the monitoring
stations along the Norwegian coastline. Based on monitoring data shown herein, the importance of long-term
biomonitoring and international chemical regulations, as well as the TBT and imposex story in general, are
discussed.
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