Comparisons of tin in surface sediments from Spaniard Bar 
with data from Buoy Rock and with data from other marine sedi¬ 
ments (Smith and Burton 1972, Hodge et al. 1979) indicate clearly 
that tin is not the sole source of the oysterkill at Spaniard 
Bar. However, if oysters and other benthic organisms were stres¬ 
sed by other factors, e.g. low dissolved oxygen, tin could con¬ 
tribute additional stress leading to death. 
Little is known about bioaccumulation of tin by benthic 
invertebrates. Until recently, analytical methods were not 
sensitive enough to permit one to deal with tin in the same 
quantitative manner as with other inorganic pollutants such as 
copper, cadmium, mercury, and zinc. These include aspects of 
levels of tin and organotins in the environment, accumulation of 
tin compounds in the food chain, chemical and biological forma¬ 
tion and transformation of inorganic tins and organotins, trans¬ 
port of tin compounds in soils and in aquatic ecosystems, and 
toxicity of tin compounds to the biota. The appropriate ques¬ 
tions should be asked regarding tin. Moreover, it is possible 
that the gut flora of oysters and other invertebrates can con¬ 
vert inorganic tin to more toxic organotins; these questions 
should be addressed. 
100 
