Speciation of butyltin compounds in oyster samples

Experimental instrumentation for the speciation of butyltin compounds by hydride generation and gas chromatography-quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is described. Evaluation of a number of extraction methods revealed that simple acid leaching of oyster samples gave adequate recoveries. The levels of each butyltin species in oyster flesh and gill are reported together with the tentative identification of a mixed methylbutyltin compound.