Dechlorane Plus (DP), a chlorinated flame retardant, was determined in the sediment samples collected in twentynine sampling sites in the northern Shikoku Island along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea, from 2012 to 2013. Dechlorane(Mirex) and PCBs were also measured in this study comparing with the concentrations of DP in the same samples. Concentrations of DP detected in the sediment samples were significantly higher than those of Mirex. On the other hand, statistically slight difference was found between the concentrations of DP and PCBs, indicating significant environmental load and residue of DP in coastal sediments of this region. Principal component analysis based on the analytical results indicated that the chemical manufacture facility, E-waste recycling facility and the waste dumping site would be potential contamination sources of DP. To our knowledge, this is the first paper on DP accumulation in coastal sediments, which showed PCB residues at comparable concentrations, in the northern Shikoku Island.
