Target and screening analysis of 940 micro-pollutants in sediments in Tokyo Bay, Japan.
Urban societies are using an increasingly diverse array of chemicals, many of which ultimately end up accumulating in urban harbors, where they can act as contaminants alone or as part of a mixture. In attempt to grasp a more complete picture of anthropogenic chemicals in an urban harbor, we analyzed 940 organic chemicals in sediments in Tokyo Bay, one of the most densely populated and modernized areas in the world. For the chemical analysis, we used targeted analytical methods using a GC-MS-MS and a GC-MS-SIM, and a screening analysis using an automated identification and quantification system with a GC-MS database. We detected 195 organic chemicals in the sediments; the sum of concentrations of compounds detected varied from 6095 to 39140μgkg(-1)dry wt. Since their concentrations increased with proximity to the innermost part of the bay, their sources seem to be mainly sewage treatment plants (STPs) and rivers flowing to this area. Additional confirmation comes from the nature of the identified pollutants, which are characteristic of chemicals used in households as well as fecal matter, business activities and urban run-off. From these results, it was confirmed that sediments in Tokyo Bay are still polluted with a wide range of chemicals, particularly domestic chemicals, despite nearly 100% of wastewater from household and business activities being treated by STPs.
Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Wakamatsu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan; Environment Monitoring Center of Ningbo,105 Baoshan Street, Ningbo 315012, China.
Shuangye
S
Pan
Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Wakamatsu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan. Electronic address: kadokami@kitakyu-u.ac.jp.
Kiwao
K
Kadokami
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China.
Xuehua
X
Li
Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Wakamatsu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan.
Hanh Thi
HT
Duong
National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
Toshihiro
T
Horiguchi
D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D014041:Tokyo; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
AIQS-DB; Chemical substances; Comprehensive analysis; Fecal sterol; PAHs; POPs