Target and screening analysis of 940 micro-pollutants in sediments in Tokyo Bay, Japan

• A combination of target and screening method was applied to sediments in Tokyo Bay.
• 195 Out of 940 organic chemicals were found.
• Tokyo Bay was polluted with mainly domestic chemicals and fecal sterols.
• PCBs and some OCPs had concentrations higher than the sediment quality guidelines.
• This combination of target and screening method is useful for environmental surveys.

Urban societies are using an increasingly diverse array of chemicals, many of which ultimately end up accumulating in urban harbors, where they can act as contaminants alone or as part of a mixture. In attempt to grasp a more complete picture of anthropogenic chemicals in an urban harbor, we analyzed 940 organic chemicals in sediments in Tokyo Bay, one of the most densely populated and modernized areas in the world. For the chemical analysis, we used targeted analytical methods using a GC–MS–MS and a GC–MS–SIM, and a screening analysis using an automated identification and quantification system with a GC–MS database. We detected 195 organic chemicals in the sediments; the sum of concentrations of compounds detected varied from 6095 to 39 140 μg kg−1 dry wt. Since their concentrations increased with proximity to the innermost part of the bay, their sources seem to be mainly sewage treatment plants (STPs) and rivers flowing to this area. Additional confirmation comes from the nature of the identified pollutants, which are characteristic of chemicals used in households as well as fecal matter, business activities and urban run-off. From these results, it was confirmed that sediments in Tokyo Bay are still polluted with a wide range of chemicals, particularly domestic chemicals, despite nearly 100% of wastewater from household and business activities being treated by STPs.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide