The nationwide investigation of 
endocrine disruptors in sediment of harbours 

Marine Pollution Bulletin Article in Press 5apr03

Yasushi Hosokawaa, Masato Yasuib, Kazumi Yoshikawab, Yusaku Tanaka, , c and Mikio Suzukid

a Ministry of Land, Interstructure and Transport, 3-1-1 Nagase, Yokosuka 239-0826, Japan 
b Ministry of Land, Interstructure and Transport, 2-1-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8918, Japan 
c Waterfront Vitalization and Environment Research Center, 3-26-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0022, Japan 
d Metocean Environment Inc., 3-15-1 Komazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-8585, Japan

Available online 19 March 2003.

Abstract

Various types of endocrine disruptors or environmental hormones flow from their sources down into harbours through rivers and other watercourses, and are accumulated in sediment on the sea bottom. Tributyltin, which has been used as paint for ship bottoms, is considered one of the endocrine disruptors.

In close cooperation with the other ministries and agencies, the Ports and Harbours Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport carried out an investigation in 1999 to determine the actual condition of 12 endocrine disruptors in the sediment of 39 harbours, in order to gather fundamental data to be used in future examinations of policy.

Furthermore, in 2000 the bureau chose seven harbours out of the above 39 harbours as subjects of an additional investigation regarding the surface distribution of endocrine disruptors in the harbour areas and the synchronistic change of accumulation of dioxin and other substances.

As the result of the investigation regarding the surface distribution of endocrine disruptors accumulated in seven harbours, relatively high concentrations were measured in the innermost parts of harbours and the mouths of rivers.

Synchronistic changes in the amount of dioxin and other substances accumulated in sediments of five harbours were determined. Small amounts of dioxin and other substances, including an especially small amount of coplanar-PCBs, were found in the layers formed before or around 1950. Relatively large amounts of these substances were measured in the upper layers formed during roughly 1960–1990, though no significant yearly differences in concentration could be identified. This result coincides with the facts that, during roughly 1960–1980, PCP and CNP were used as agricultural chemicals and full-scale production of PCBs started in 1960.

Author Keywords: Sediment pollution; Harbours; Pollution monitoring; Endocrine disruptors; Dioxins; Ages of sediment layers

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +81-3-5443-5386; fax: +81-3-5443-5412 tanaka@wave.or.jp