Abstract
We analyzed eondocrine disrupters nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations at various sites located adjacent to coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan. In order to evaluate possible contamination of coral reefs by NP and BPA, we analyzed seasonal variation and spatial distribution of NP and BPA. The concentration of NP in sediment samples varied irregularly with season at almost all sites. The degradation of NP and BPA were studied in the laboratory. This laboratory study showed that main factor of degradation was temperautre. However, the degradation also depended on the characteristics of the sediment such as aerobic/anaerobic condition, grain-size fraction and organic carbon (OC) content.
