Concentrations of chlorine, bromine and iodine in Japanese rivers

Concentrations of halogens (Cl, Br and I) in 30 Japanese rivers were measured by ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to understand their behavior in the terrestrial environment. Concentrations of Cl, Br and I in each river, obtained at 10 sampling points from the upper stream to the river mouth, tended to increase near the river mouth. The ranges of geometric means of Cl, Br and I in each river were 1.0–19.4 mg l−1, 2.5–67.9 μg l−1, and 0.18–8.34 μg l−1, respectively. To compare halogen behavior, the concentration ratios, Br/Cl and I/Cl, were calculated. The Br/Cl range was (2.3–7.8) × 10−3 (geometric mean: 3.74 × 10−3), and it was nearly constant except for the Yoneshiro river. It was estimated that 60–80% of total Br in the middle to lower parts of this river was the excess Br. The Br chemical form in all the rivers is generally considered to be Br−. The I/Cl ratios had different trends in rivers flowing into the Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean, possibly due to the different geological features in the river catchments.