The term 'booster biocides' encompasses a group of compounds that are added to antifouling paints to enhance their performance in preventing the colonisation of boat hulls by algae and seaweed (See Thomas, 2001 for full review). Until September 2000,the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) approved eight biocides for use in antifouling paints on vessels in the UK. This has since been restricted to zinc pyrithione, zineb and dichlof luanid for boats <25 m in length with SeaNine 211, Irgarol 1051 and chlorothalonil also approved for use on boats >25 m (HSE, 2000). However, during the reporting period, paints containing Irgarol 1051 and diuron were still the most commonly used. The continued input of these biocides from the painted hulls of boats has ledto reports of elevated concentrations of two of these biocides, diuron and Irgarol 1051, in areas of high yachting activity and low water exchange rates such as marinas (Ferrer and Barcelo, 1999; Thomas et al., 2000; Thomas et al., 2001; CEFAS, 2001). In a few marinas, these concentrations are sufficiently high to have the potential to pose a risk to aquatic life (Thomas et al., 2001)., In the last AEMR (CEFAS, 2001) we reported data on the occurrence of these compounds in coastal and offshore waters.Here we report data on the occurrence of the booster biocides Irgarol 1051, diuron, SeaNine 211, TCMTB (Thiocyanomethylthio benzothiazole), chlorothalonil, and dichlofluanid and the booster biocide degradation products, l-(3-chlorophenyI)-3,1-dimethylurea (CPDU), l-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-methylurea (DCPMU), l-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea (DCPU), and (2-(tert-butylamino)-4-amino-6-(methylthio)-l,3,5-triazine (G526575) in harbours, docks and marinas.
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