SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATIONS OF TRACE-METALS IN BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF PETER-THE-GREAT BAY, THE SEA-OF-JAPAN

New data on trace metal distribution in bottom sediments of Peter the Great Bay (the Sea of Japan) are presented. Much higher concentrations were detected near the most likely anthropogenic sources of trace met al inputs (waste water discharges from Vladivostok and Nakhodka, and t he Vladivostok coastal landfill). Sediments in these contaminated area s were up to 700 ppm in Zn, 530 ppm in Pb, 7 ppm in Cd and 3 ppm in Hg . River runoff is of minor importance as a metal source in the investi gated areas. The spatial distribution of trace metals outside the area s directly influenced by sewage discharges is regulated by natural pro cesses such as sediment sorting by grain size. Based on radiometric el ating of sediment cores, increases in the trace metal content of botto m sediments near Vladivostok begun in approximately 1945.