Organic compounds found in Dokai Bay, Japan.

Abstract

Dokai Bay is a 13km-long narrow bay with average depth of 7m, which is located in north Kyushu in Japan. There had been ser ious environmental p o l l u t i o n caused by unt rea ted domestic and i ndus t r i a l wastewater in t h i s area. The po l lu t i on was acce le ra t ed by the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h i s enclosed shape with l i t t l e water exchange to open sea. Nowadays, the water q u a l i t y of t h i s bay has improved as a r e s u l t of the r egu la t ion of wastewater, the spreading of sewage t reatment system and the dredging of po l l u t ed sediment. But there are s t i l l many f a c t o r i e s producing chemicals, iron and s tee l around the bay. And large residence area s t r e t c h e s upstream. Therefore, many kinds of chemical substances may accumulate in t h i s area than in an open area.