Distributions of Heavy Metals in Bottom Mud and Polygonum nodosum in the Watarase River

Abstract

Distributions of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in the bottom mud and Polygonum nodosum were studied in the Watarase River, which is polluted with refinery drainage. The mud samples collected from upstream near the pollution source and the downstream alluvial fan were highly polluted with metals These results seemed to show that the metal concentration of mud is related to the slope of the riverbed.
The amount of heavy metals in P. nodosum had a relationship with 0.1 M EDTA extractable metals in the mud. P. nodosum collected from upstream showed high metal contents. Judging from these results, it was suggested that the chemical form of metals in the mud may differ from upstream to downstream.