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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Tin and Tin Compounds 

Division of Toxicology August 2005 

This Public Health Statement is the summary 

chapter from the Toxicological Profile for Tin and 

Tin Compounds. It is one in a series of Public 

Health Statements about hazardous substances and 

their health effects. A shorter version, the 

ToxFAQsTM, is also available. This information is 

important because these substances may harm you. 

The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance 

depend on the dose, the duration, how you are 

exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether 

other chemicals are present. For more information, 

call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-

8737. 

This public health statement tells you about tin and 

tin compounds and the effects of exposure to them. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in 

the nation. These sites are then placed on the 

National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for 

long-term federal clean-up activities. Tin and 

organotin compounds have been found in at least 

214 and 8, respectively, of the 1,662 current or 

former NPL sites. Although the total number of 

NPL sites evaluated for these substances is not 

known, the possibility exists that the number of 

sites at which tin and organotin compounds are 

found may increase in the future as more sites are 

evaluated. This information is important because 

these sites may be sources of exposure and exposure 

to these substances may harm you. 

When a substance is released either from a large 

area, such as an industrial plant, or from a container, 

such as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. 

Such a release does not always lead to exposure. 

You can be exposed to a substance only when you 

come in contact with it. You may be exposed by 

breathing, eating, or drinking the substance, or by 

skin contact. 

If you are exposed to tin and tin compounds, many 

factors will determine whether you will be harmed. 

These factors include the dose (how much), the 

duration (how long), and how you come in contact 

with them. You must also consider any other 

chemicals you are exposed to and your age, sex, 

diet, family traits, lifestyle, and state of health. 

1.1 WHAT ARE TIN AND TIN 

COMPOUNDS? 

Tin is a soft, white, silvery metal that is insoluble in 

water. Tin metal is used to line cans for food, 

beverages, and aerosols. It is present in brass, 

bronze, pewter, and some soldering materials. 

Tin is a metal that can combine with other 

chemicals to form various compounds. When tin is 

combined with chlorine, sulfur, or oxygen, it is 

called an inorganic tin compound. Inorganic tin 

compounds are found in small amounts in the 

earth's crust. They are also present in toothpaste, 

perfumes, soaps, coloring agents, food additives, 

and dyes. 

Tin also can combine with carbon to form organotin 

compounds. These compounds are used in making 

plastics, food packages, plastic pipes, pesticides, 

paints, wood preservatives, and rodent (rats and 

mice) repellants. 

There can be tin metal as well as inorganic and 

organic tin compounds in the air, water, and soil 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Tin and Tin Compounds 

Division of Toxicology August 2005 

near places where they are naturally present in the 

rocks, mined, manufactured, or used. In general, 

organic tin compounds are from human-made 

sources and do not occur naturally in the 

environment. The time each tin compound stays in 

air, water, or soil differs from compound to 

compound. 

1.2 WHAT HAPPENS TO TIN AND TIN 

COMPOUNDS WHEN THEY ENTER 

THE ENVIRONMENT? 

Tin is a component of many soils. Tin may be 

released in dusts from wind storms, roads, and 

farming activities. Gases, dusts, and fumes 

containing tin may be released from smelting and 

refining processes, burning of waste, and burning of 

fossil fuels (coal or oil). Particles in the air 

containing tin may be transported by wind or 

washed out of the air by rain or snow. Tin binds to 

soils and to sediments in water and is generally 

regarded as being relatively immobile in the 

environment. Tin cannot be destroyed in the 

environment. It can only change its form or become 

attached or separated from particles in soil, 

sediment, and water. 

Organic tin compounds stick to soil, sediment, and 

particles in water. Organic tin compounds can be 

degraded (by exposure to sunlight and by bacteria) 

into inorganic tin compounds. In water, organic tin 

compounds are mostly attached to particles in 

water. Organic tin compounds may also settle out 

of the water into sediments and may remain 

unchanged for years. Organic tin compounds may 

be taken up into the tissues of animals that live in 

water containing these compounds. 

1.3 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO TIN 

AND TIN COMPOUNDS? 

Tin is present in the air, water, soil, and landfills 

and is a normal part of many plants and animals that 

live on land and in water. Tin is also present in the 

tissues of your body. There is no evidence that tin 

is an essential element for humans. 

Since tin is naturally found in soils, it will be found 

in small amounts in foods. Tin concentrations of 

vegetables, fruits and fruit juices, nuts, dairy 

products, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beverages, and 

other foods not packaged in metal cans are 

generally less than 2 parts per million (ppm) (1 ppm 

= 1 part of tin in a million parts of food by weight). 

Tin concentrations in pastas and breads have been 

reported to range from less than 0.003 to 0.03 ppm. 

You can be exposed to tin when you eat food or 

drink juice or other liquids from tin-lined cans. 

Canned food from lacquered tin-lined cans contains 

less than 25 ppm of tin since the lacquer prevents 

the food from reacting with the tin. Food from 

unlacquered tin-lined cans contains up to 100 ppm 

of tin since the reaction of the food with the can 

causes some of the tin to dissolve in the contents of 

the can. Greater than 90% of tin-lined cans used for 

food today are lacquered. Only light colored fruit 

and fruit juices are packed in unlacquered tin-lined 

cans, since tin helps maintain the color of the fruit. 

Tin concentrations in food also increase if food is 

stored in opened cans. Stannous fluoride, a tincontaining compound, is added to toothpaste. 

You can also be exposed to higher-than-normal 

levels of tin if you work in a factory that makes or 

uses tin. Because tin compounds have many uses, 

you can be exposed by breathing in tin dusts or 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Tin and Tin Compounds 

Division of Toxicology August 2005 

fumes or getting tin compounds on your skin. Tin 

compounds can also be spilled accidentally. If you 

live near a hazardous waste site, you could be 

exposed by breathing dusts, touching materials, or 

drinking water contaminated with tin. 

Humans are usually exposed to tin at far less than 

1 ppm from air and water. The amounts in air and 

water near hazardous waste sites could be higher. 

Young children sometimes eat soil during play. 

While most soil contains about 1 ppm tin, some 

soils may contain as much as 200 ppm tin. 

Assuming that children eat 200 mg of soil per day, 

exposure to tin from eating soil would be low. 

You may be exposed to organic tin compounds 

(mainly butyltin compounds) by eating seafood 

from coastal waters or from contact with household 

products that contain organotin compounds, 

(polyurethane, plastic polymers, and silicon-coated 

baking parchment paper). Organic tin compounds 

have been detected in drinking water in Canada 

where pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 

which contain organic tin compounds, are used in 

the distribution of drinking water. 

1.4 HOW CAN TIN AND TIN COMPOUNDS 

ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY? 

Tin can enter your body when you eat contaminated 

food or drink contaminated water, when you touch 

or eat soil that has tin in it, or when you breathe tincontaining fumes or dusts. Tin compounds can 

enter your body from nearby hazardous waste sites 

by exposure to contaminated air, water, and soil. 

When you eat tin in your food, very little leaves the 

gastrointestinal tract and gets into your 

bloodstream. Most tin travels through the intestines 

and leaves your body in the feces. Some leaves 

your body in the urine. If you breathe air 

containing tin dust or fumes, some of the tin could 

be trapped in your lungs, but this does not affect 

your breathing if it is a small amount. If you 

swallow some metallic tin particles, they will leave 

your body in the feces. Very little tin can enter the 

body through unbroken skin. Your body can rid 

itself of most inorganic tin in weeks, but some can 

stay in your body for 2–3 months. Inorganic tin 

compounds leave your body very quickly; most are 

gone within a day. Very small amounts of tin stay 

in some tissues of your body, like the bones, for 

longer periods of time. 

1.5 HOW CAN TIN AND TIN COMPOUNDS 

AFFECT MY HEALTH? 

Scientists use many tests to protect the public from 

harmful effects of toxic chemicals and to find ways 

for treating persons who have been harmed. 

One way to learn whether a chemical will harm 

people is to determine how the body absorbs, uses, 

and releases the chemical. For some chemicals, 

animal testing may be necessary. Animal testing 

may also help identify health effects such as cancer 

or birth defects. Without laboratory animals, 

scientists would lose a basic method for getting 

information needed to make wise decisions that 

protect public health. Scientists have the 

responsibility to treat research animals with care 

and compassion. Scientists must comply with strict 

animal care guidelines because laws today protect 

the welfare of research animals. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Tin and Tin Compounds 

Division of Toxicology August 2005 

Because inorganic tin compounds usually enter and 

leave your body rapidly after you breathe or eat 

them, they do not usually cause harmful effects. 

However, humans who swallowed large amounts of 

inorganic tin in research studies suffered 

stomachaches, anemia, and liver and kidney 

problems. Studies with inorganic tin in animals 

have shown similar effects to those observed in 

humans. There is no evidence that inorganic tin 

compounds affect reproductive functions, produce 

birth defects, or cause genetic changes. Inorganic 

tin compounds are not known to cause cancer. 

Inhalation (breathing in), oral (eating or drinking), 

or dermal exposure (skin contact) to some organotin 

compounds has been shown to cause harmful 

effects in humans, but the main effect will depend 

on the particular organotin compound. There have 

been reports of skin and eye irritation, respiratory 

irritation, gastrointestinal effects, and neurological 

problems in humans exposed for a short period of 

time to high amounts of certain organotin 

compounds. Some neurological problems have 

persisted for years after the poisoning occurred. 

Lethal cases have been reported following ingestion 

of very high amounts. Studies in animals have 

shown that certain organotins mainly affect the 

immune system, but a different type primarily 

affects the nervous system. Yet, there are some 

organotins that exhibit very low toxicity. Exposure 

of pregnant rats and mice to some organotin 

compounds has reduced fertility and caused 

stillbirth, but scientists still are not sure whether this 

occurs only with doses that are also toxic to the 

mother. Some animal studies also suggested that 

reproductive organs of males may be affected. 

There are no studies of cancer in humans exposed to 

organotin compounds. Studies of a few organotins 

in animals suggest that some organotin compounds 

can produce cancer. On the basis of no data in 

humans and questionable data from a study in rats, 

EPA has determined that one specific organotin, 

tributyltin oxide, is not classifiable as to human 

carcinogenicity; that is, it is not known whether or 

not it causes cancer in humans. 

1.6 HOW CAN TIN AND TIN COMPOUNDS 

AFFECT CHILDREN? 

This section discusses potential health effects in 

humans from exposures during the period from 

conception to maturity at 18 years of age. 

Children can be exposed to tin compounds 

(inorganic or organic) in the same manner as adults: 

through the diet or by contact with contaminated 

soil at or near hazardous waste sites where these 

compounds are found. Some children eat 

significant amounts of dirt (a behavior called pica), 

which may lead to increased exposure if the soil is 

contaminated. In addition, children can be exposed 

if family members work with tin compounds and 

bring home tin residues in their clothing or tools. 

There are no studies on health effects in children 

exposed to tin compounds. However, it is 

reasonable to assume that children would exhibit 

the same type of health effects observed in exposed 

adults. We do not know whether children are more 

susceptible to the effects of exposure to tin and tin 

compounds than adults. There are no reports of 

adverse developmental effects in humans exposed 

to tin or its compounds, or of inorganic tin in 

animals. Studies in animals have shown that 

organotin compounds can cross the placenta and 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Tin and Tin Compounds 

Division of Toxicology August 2005 

reach the fetus. Exposure of rodents to some 

organotins during pregnancy has produced birth 

defects in the newborn animals. The results of 

several studies suggest that this may occur only at 

high exposure levels that cause maternal toxicity, 

but further research is needed to clarify this issue. 

One study found that rats whose mothers were 

exposed to tributyltin during pregnancy showed 

altered performance in some neurological tests 

conducted when they were young adults. Another 

study, also with tributyltin, found that exposure 

during gestation, lactation, and post-lactation 

affected some developmental landmarks in female 

rats. There are no reports of tin or tin compounds in 

human breast milk, and there is no direct evidence 

in animals of transfer of these compounds to the 

young through nursing. 

1.7 HOW CAN FAMILIES REDUCE THE 

RISK OF EXPOSURE TO TIN AND TIN 

COMPOUNDS? 

If your doctor finds that you have been exposed to 

substantial amounts of tin and tin compounds, ask 

whether your children might also have been 

exposed. Your doctor might need to ask your state 

health department to investigate. 

Children living near waste sites containing tin and 

tin compounds are likely to be exposed to higher 

than normal environmental levels of tin through 

breathing, touching soil, and eating contaminated 

soil. You should discourage your children from 

eating dirt. Make sure they wash their hands 

frequently and before eating. Discourage your 

children from putting their hands in their mouths. 

Some toothpastes and other dental products contain 

stannous fluoride, a tin containing compound. 

Children should be watched carefully when using 

these products and should not swallow these 

products. 

Because tin is naturally found in the environment at 

low levels, we cannot avoid being exposed to it. 

The major route of exposure to tin is from eating or 

drinking canned products. Reducing the amount of 

canned products you eat or drink may reduce your 

exposure to tin. Since tin concentrations in food 

increase if food is stored in opened cans, you can 

reduce your exposure by storing unused portions of 

canned foods in a separate container. You may be 

exposed to organic tin compounds by eating 

seafood from areas that may be contaminated with 

organic tin compounds or from contact with 

household products that contain organotin 

compounds (polyurethane, plastic polymers, and 

silicon-coated baking parchment paper). Reducing 

the amount of seafood that you eat from areas that 

may be contaminated with organic tin compounds 

and reducing contact with household products that 

contain organic tin compounds may reduce your 

exposure to organic tin compounds. If you are 

accidentally exposed to large amounts of tin or tin 

compounds, consult a physician immediately. 

1.8 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO 

DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN 

EXPOSED TO TIN AND TIN 

COMPOUNDS? 

There are tests to measure tin and organotin 

compounds in your blood, urine, feces, and body 

tissues. Normally, small amounts of tin are found 

in the body because of the daily exposure to small 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Tin and Tin Compounds 

Division of Toxicology August 2005 

amounts in the food. Therefore, the available tests 

cannot tell you when you were exposed or the exact 

amount of tin to which you were exposed, but can 

help determine if you were exposed to an amount of 

tin or tin compounds unusually high in the near 

past. This information can be used to locate the 

source of exposure. 

Tests for tin and related compounds are not 

routinely performed at a doctor’s office because 

they require special equipment, but the doctor can 

take samples and send them to a testing laboratory. 

1.9 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO 

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH? 

The federal government develops regulations and 

recommendations to protect public health. 

Regulations can be enforced by law. The EPA, the 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

(OSHA), and the Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) are some federal agencies that develop 

regulations for toxic substances. Recommendations 

provide valuable guidelines to protect public health, 

but cannot be enforced by law. The Agency for 

Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 

and the National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health (NIOSH) are two federal organizations 

that develop recommendations for toxic substances. 

Regulations and recommendations can be expressed 

as “not-to-exceed” levels, that is, levels of a toxic 

substance in air, water, soil, or food that do not 

exceed a critical value that is usually based on 

levels that affect animals; they are then adjusted to 

levels that will help protect humans. Sometimes 

these not-to-exceed levels differ among federal 

organizations because they used different exposure 

times (an 8-hour workday or a 24-hour day), 

different animal studies, or other factors. 

Recommendations and regulations are also updated 

periodically as more information becomes available. 

For the most current information, check with the 

federal agency or organization that provides it. 

Some regulations and recommendations for tin and 

tin compounds include the following: 

Several government agencies and the Congress have 

acted to protect human health by regulating tin 

compounds. The EPA has limited the use of certain 

organotin compounds in paints. OSHA has 

established workplace exposure limits of 

0.1 milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3

) for 

organotin compounds and 2 mg/m3

 for inorganic tin 

compounds, except oxides. NIOSH recommends 

workplace exposure limits of 2 mg/m3 for inorganic 

tin compounds, except for tin oxides, and 0.1 mg/m3 

for organotins, except tricyclohexyltin hydroxide. 

NIOSH states that a concentration of 

tricyclohexyltin hydroxide of 25 mg/m3 should be 

considered as immediately dangerous to life or 

health. The FDA regulates the use of some organic 

tin compounds in coatings and plastic food 

packaging. The FDA also has set limits for the use 

of tin, as stannous chloride, as an additive for food. 

1.10 WHERE CAN I GET MORE 

INFORMATION? 

If you have any more questions or concerns, please 

contact your community or state health or 

environmental quality department, your regional 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Tin and Tin Compounds 

Division of Toxicology August 2005 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission office, or contact 

ATSDR at the address and phone number below. 

ATSDR can also tell you the location of 

occupational and environmental health clinics. 

These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, 

and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to 

hazardous substances. 

Toxicological profiles are also available on-line at 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov and on CD-ROM. You may 

request a copy of the ATSDR ToxProfiles 

CD-ROM by calling the information and technical 

assistance toll-free number at 1-888-42ATSDR 

(1-888-422-8737), by email at atsdric@cdc.gov, or 

by writing to: 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

Division of Toxicology 

1600 Clifton Road NE 

 Mailstop F-32 

Atlanta, GA 30333 

 Fax: 1-770-488-4178 

For-profit organizations may request a copy of final 

profiles from the following: 

National Technical Information Service (NTIS) 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

Phone: 1-800-553-6847 or 1-703-605-6000 

Web site: http://www.ntis.gov/ 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov