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- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian Space Agency
- Boosting innovation and science
- Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array
- Increasing international collaboration
- Industry growth centres
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
- National Measurement Institute
- Optical astronomy in Australia
- Participating in the digital economy
- Promoting innovation precincts
- Science in our department
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Energy
Resources
Northern Australia
Trade
Business support
Measurement services
Government to government services
- Regulations and standards
Emissions reduction
Energy
Resources
- Applying to export rough diamonds
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
- Offshore oil and gas exploration and development
- Offshore petroleum exploration acreage release process
- Regulating offshore oil and gas in Australian Commonwealth waters
- Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine
- Taxes and royalties on minerals and petroleum
Measurement
Trade
Space industry
Building industry
Business support
- Funding and incentives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Australian Square Kilometre Array Fellowships Programme
- Business Research and Innovation Initiative
- Business-research collaboration
- Collaborating with Asia-Pacific on science, research and innovation
- Collaborating with China on science and research
- Collaborating with India on science and research
- Cooperative research centres
- Enabling international space investment
- Industry 4.0
- Inspiring Australia: Science engagement in Australia
- International research collaboration
- Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
- Supporting advanced manufacturing
- Supporting business and innovation
- Supporting space infrastructure growth
- Transitioning Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry
- Venture capital
Resources
- About us
COVID-19
Jobs
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- Our Ministers
- Our Executive team
- Organisation chart
- Our portfolio agencies
- Overseas engagement
- Anti-Dumping Commission
- Anti-Dumping Review Panel
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian SKA Office
- Australian Space Agency
- Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
- National Measurement Institute
- Office of Innovation and Science Australia
- Office of Northern Australia
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of the Chief Scientist
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- Assurance and Audit Committee
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- Campaign Certification Statements
- Continuing Order of the Senate
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- Organotin in the marine environment
On this page
Organotin in the marine environment

Organotins have been widely used in many industrial, chemical and agricultural applications. They are toxic endocrine-disruptor chemicals which bioaccumulate and can severely impact the health and development of marine life such as oysters and mussels.
Australia has entered into international agreements and legislated to help preserve marine ecosystems and prevent marine pollution. The International Maritime Organisation banned the use of tributyltin as a biocide in anti-fouling paint in 2003.
Organotins are persistent and continue to be found even in remote locations. They are common contaminants in ports and harbours and are often present at significant levels in berths and inner harbour areas.
Our services
The National Measurement Institute (NMI) uses a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited method and state-of-the-art technology to determine:
- monobutyltin
- dibutyltin
- tributyltin
We use an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) interfaced to a gas chromatograph (GC).
GC-ICP-MS is more accurate than other techniques because it:
- uses highly selective tin isotopes to minimise matrix interference and co-eluting peaks from skewing results
- has high sensitivity for low level detection
- is effective with complex matrices such as shell fish tissue
Why choose us
We are Australia’s peak measurement body and offer:
- NATA accredited detection methods
- accurate results using internal standards, blanks, laboratory control spikes and surrogates
- state-of-the-art GC-ICP-MS instrument
Turnaround times
Our standard turnaround time is 5-30 days.
We also offer 1, 2 and 3 working day turnaround times where agreed.
Submitting samples
Find out how to submit your environmental testing samples.
Request a quote or discuss your requirements
Contact us for a quote or to discuss how we can tailor our services to meet your analysis requirements.
- Email customerservice@measurement.gov.au
- Read our terms and conditions
- For general enquiries phone: +61 2 9449 0111
Read more
See our full range of environmental testing and analysis services.
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- Join us on Facebook @NMIAustralia
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Contact us
- Email customerservice@measurement.gov.au
- For general enquiries or updates on your work order phone: 1300 722 845

- National Measurement Institute
Last updated: 8 December 2020
Content ID: 64579