Consultation document: proposed risk management for non-pesticidal uses of tributyltin: chapter 1

Substance Containing the Grouping (C₄H₉)₃Sn

Environment Canada

December 2010

Download Consultation Document (PDF Format, 112 KB)

Table of Contents

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Industrial Uses and Incidental Presence of Tributyltins
  • 2.1 Current Uses
  • 2.2 Incidental Presence
    • 2.2.1 Mono- and Diorganotins
    • 2.2.2 Tetrabutyltin
• 3 Releases and Existing Risk Management Activities for Tributyltins
  • 3.1 Canada
  • 3.2 International
• 4 Proposed Risk Management Measure for Non-Pesticidal Uses of Tributyltins
• 5 Next Steps
• 6 References
• Annex A: Summary on the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations

1 Introduction

Organotin substances are tin compounds having 1, 2, 3 or 4 organic groups attached and are designated as mono-, di-, tri- or tetraorganotin depending on the number of tin-carbon bonds in the molecule. Organotins are mainly used in the vinyl processing industry and as pesticides. Tributyltins, the groups of substances which is the subject of the consultation document, has the chemical moiety (i.e. grouping) (C₄H₉)₃Sn.

The final follow-up ecological assessment report for non-pesticidal organotin compounds was published by Environment Canada (EC) in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on August 8, 2009, under section 68 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) [EC, 2009a]. With respect to non-pesticidal tributyltins, this assessment report concluded that they are entering, or may enter, the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity, as defined in paragraph 64(a) of CEPA 1999. Additionally, tributyltins meet the criteria for persistence and bioaccumulation potential as set out in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations (SOR/2000-107) [EC, 2000].

As proposed in the Risk Management Approach for Non-Pesticidal Organotin Compounds that was published in August 2009 (EC,2009b), the Government of Canada indicated it would consider the addition of non-pesticidal tributyltins to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2005 (SOR/2005-41) [EC, 2005], herein referred to as "Prohibition Regulations", to prohibit the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and import.

Environment Canada is developing a regulatory proposal for adding non-pesticidal uses of tributyltins to the Prohibition Regulations.

This consultation document provides an overview of this regulatory proposal. The intent of this consultation document is to encourage discussion and to give interested and affected parties an opportunity to provide input or comments regarding this regulatory proposal. This consultation focuses on the environmental and economic issues associated with the proposed prohibition of the substances. The purpose of this consultation is to:

• Inform interested and affected stakeholders of the regulatory proposal; and
• Provide an opportunity for interested and affected stakeholders to comment on the regulatory proposal.

The Government of Canada is committed to providing interested and affected parties with the opportunity to take part in consultations at all stages of the regulatory development process. All interested parties may comment on the regulatory proposal by writing to the contact provided in Section 5 of this document.