| Abstract
| - Butyltin compounds are widespread contaminants that have also been found in some wines. Thepurpose of the present work was to make a survey of butyltin compounds in Portuguese wines. Forty-three table wines and 14 Port wines were analyzed for butyltin contents by using solid-phasemicroextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). In 14% of the analyzedwine samples, measurable dibutyltin (DBT) was found at concentrations ranging between 0.05 and0.15 μg/L as Sn. Monobutyltin (MBT) was also observed (0.05 μg/L as Sn) in just a single wine. Asearch for the possible sources of DBT residues found in the wines was carried out. Therefore, someplastics and oak wood used in the process of wine-making, which have been directly in contact withthe musts or the wines, were studied to check their possible release of butyltins. The eventual presenceof DBT was also tested directly along the vinification process, from the must to the finished product.The results suggest that high-density polyethylene containers used in the transfer of wine in an earlystage of the vinification process may be the main sources of these contaminants. Therefore, it isrecommendable that plastic materials to be used in wineries be previously tested for the release ofbutyltin compounds. Keywords: Wine; butyltin; plastics; vinification
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