An urban river, Kamo River, located at the southern part of Saitama Prefecture had been found to be seriously polluted by nonylphenol (NP). Concentrations of nonylphenolic compounds (NP, nonylphenol ethoxylates, nonylphenoxy acetic acids) in the effluents from and the chemical products used in a dyes production factory, an industrial laundry, four gas stations, two car washing stations and a rubber product manufacturing factory were determined, and their characteristics were evaluated. The concentration of nonylphenolic compounds were ranged from 3.2 to 1,600 μg/L in the effluents. Seven out of 33 chemical products (detergents, dispersants, waxes) used in the factories and the stations contained nonylphenolic compounds of 1.1 μg/g to 0.97g/g. An annual emission load of nonylphenolic compounds in the effluent from the rubber product manufacturing factory, whose nonylphenolic compounds detected was 1,600 μg/L, was estimated to be 105 kg. Whereas the factory was identified to be the major pollution sources of nonylphenolic compounds in the Kamo River, it was also found that gas stations and car washing stations widely distributed in the river basin were pollution sources. Moreover, it was suggested that the oligomer pattern of nonylphenolic compounds in an effluent reflected the situation of wastewater treatment of each business site.
