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 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.
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kurokami 2-39-1, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan. nakata@sci.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Haruhiko
H
Nakata
Hideaki
H
Shimada
Maki
M
Yoshimoto
Rika
R
Narumi
Kazumi
K
Akimoto
Takayuki
T
Yamashita
Tomoya
T
Matsunaga
Keisuke
K
Nishimura
Masakazu
M
Tanaka
Kenju
K
Hiraki
Hideyuki
H
Shimasaki
Kiyoshi
K
Takikawa
D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007564:Japan; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008628:Mercury