Organotin is a class of compounds in which tin atoms are covalently bonded to one or several organic substituents. Its general formula is RnSnX4-n, where R represents alkane Group or aromatic group, n=1~4, X is an anion, such as halogen, oxygen or hydroxyl 1. The EU organotin standard implements Directive 2009/425/EC, which formally begins to restrict the use of certain organotin compounds in consumer products2. The National Environmental Protection Standard of the People’s Republic of China specifies the liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method for the determination of 4 organotin compounds including tributyltin in water. Organotin compounds are a class of compounds that are potentially harmful to humans and the environment, so their use is subject to certain restrictions and regulations in various fields. In different countries and regions, the standard limits for organotin compounds will also be different.
The following are some international, regional and industry-related organotin standards:
1. International standards: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has passed the “Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Organotin Hazardous Substances” to limit the use of organotin compounds in the marine environment emission. In addition, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has also issued standard documents on organotin reagent standards, such as ISO 33:1993.
2. Italian standards: In Italy, according to its environmental protection and health protection regulations, a series of organotin standards are stipulated. Among them, the most stringent standard currently used is DM 27/2010 (Legislative Decree n. 27 of 27 January 2010), which stipulates the limits of organotin compounds in various environmental media.
3. European standard: The European Union promulgated REACH, a chemical regulation, to manage and control organotin compounds. Within Europe, countries also have corresponding regulations or standards on organotin content. For example, the European Toy Safety Directive restricts the use of organotin compounds.
4. American standards: In the United States, organotin standards are issued by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). For example, EPA has issued TSCA Title VI standard on the limitation and management of organotin content. In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also has corresponding requirements for organotin compounds in food packaging.
In general, different countries, regions and industries will regulate the use and discharge of organotin compounds to ensure the safety of human health and the environment .
