A study on organotin levels in Canadian drinking water distributed through PVC pipes

A study on organotin compounds in Canadian drinking water was carried out in winter-spring 1996 (28 sites) and autumn 1996 (21 sites). Approximately 29% and 40% of distribution waters supplied through PVC pipes installed recently (typically less than 6 months) contained organotin compounds in the winter-spring and autumn surveys respectively. Monomethyl-, dimethyl-, monobutyl- and dibutyltin levels ranged up to 291 ng Sn/L, 49.1 ng Sn/L, 28.5 ng Sn/L and 52.3 ng Sn/L, respectively. An additional study in summer 1996, of locations where the highest organotin levels were detected in the winter-spring survey, indicated that organotin levels had decreased in most distribution water samples. Samples of PVC pipe/tubing contained organotin compounds consistent with the organotin patterns found in the distribution water samples.