Concentrations and Distribution of Mercury and Other Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments of the Yatsushiro Sea including Minamata Bay, Japan

The concentrations and distribution of heavy metals, such as mercury, zinc, copper, lead, and iron in surface sediments from 234 stations of the Yatsushiro Sea including Minamata bay were investigated. High concentrations of mercury were found in sediments from Minamata bay and its vicinity, but the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2008-01, Vol.80 (1), p.78-84
Main Authors: Nakata, Haruhiko, Shimada, Hideaki, Yoshimoto, Maki, Narumi, Rika, Akimoto, Kazumi, Yamashita, Takayuki, Matsunaga, Tomoya, Nishimura, Keisuke, Tanaka, Masakazu, Hiraki, Kenju, Shimasaki, Hideyuki, Takikawa, Kiyoshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropogenic factors
Aquatic Pollution
Copper
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Geologic Sediments - analysis
Heavy metals
Japan
Mercury
Mercury - analysis
Metal concentrations
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Oceans
Pollution
Seawater - analysis
Sediments
Soil Science & Conservation
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water pollution
Water Pollution Control
Zinc
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Summary:The concentrations and distribution of heavy metals, such as mercury, zinc, copper, lead, and iron in surface sediments from 234 stations of the Yatsushiro Sea including Minamata bay were investigated. High concentrations of mercury were found in sediments from Minamata bay and its vicinity, but the levels decreased gradually with distance from the bay. The concentrations of mercury in sediments decreased gradually from south to north of the Yatsushiro Sea. These imply the lack of movement of mercury from Minamata bay to the northern Yatsushiro Sea. The geographical profiles of zinc and copper were contrary to that found for mercury, indicating the presence of natural and anthropogenic sources of copper and zinc in the northern Yatsushiro Sea.
ISSN:0007-4861
1432-0800
DOI:10.1007/s00128-007-9320-6