Abstract
Eleven elemental concentrations (Na, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Hg, Pb) of water of three river systems (the Yoshii River, the Asahi River and the Takahashi River) in Okayama Prefecture were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A difference of each element concentration by river system was identified. In the Yoshii River, the elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Cd) were significantly higher than those in other rivers (the Asahi and the Takahashi River). In the Asahi River or the Takahashi River, no element was significantly higher than the other rivers. Different characteristics of elements among the three river systems were recognized. The elements increase according to increase in flow rate. Especially, the coefficient of correlation on relationship between distance from mouth of river and elements (Cr, Cu and As) concentration in river was high. Elemental concentrations of every determined site were not over the water quality criteria concentration of tap water.
