Dissolved mercury concentrations of 26 rivers in eastern Japan and the factors controlling their variations.

Abstract

Because mercury has the high volatility and the capability of bioaccumulation, it behaves similarly to bio-elements. Given these properties, it is important to understand mercury dynamics during land-ocean aquatic continuum. However there are many reported cases of mercury concentrations in rivers worldwide, they are unevenly distributed and there are very few examples in Japan. In this study, we collected water samples from 26 major rivers in the Hokuriku, Sanriku-Hitachi, and Tokaido regions. The concentrations of dissolved mercury were determined. Statistical analyses of the factors controlling their variations of were also conducted using the National Land Information System of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).