Novel antifouling agent--zinc pyrithione: short- and long-term effects on survival and reproduction of the marine polychaete Dinophilus gyrociliatus.

The recent ban on TBT in boat antifouling paints has resulted in a large employment of the biocide zinc pyrithione (ZnPT) as substitute. Despite concerns of its environmental toxicity at ultra-trace concentrations, ZnPT has received little attention, as it was assumed to photo-degrade easily. However, recent evidence has suggested that ZnPT degrades only partially, and persists in the marine environment, especially where the influence of light is limited, such as in harbours.