MOLECULAR MARKERS IN TOKYO BAY SEDIMENTS - SOURCES AND DISTRIBUTION

The spatial distribution of different classes of molecular markers in Tokyo Bay sediments, a semi-enclosed system surrounded by one of the m ost urbanized areas in the world, has been investigated. In order to s tudy the environmental stability of different chemical classes of sewa ge markers, their isomeric composition was determined in river particu late matter, waste-water influent and surficial sediments. Among the m olecular markers characterized, linear alkylbenzenes (LAB) and trialky lamines (TAM) were the most useful for tracing the transport of contam inants from point sources of pollution, because of their stability in sediments, and for assessing biodegradation processes during transport . Detection of LAB as well as TAM in the sediments outside of Tokyo Ba y, more than 20 km from riverine inflow and 300 m water depth, clearly indicates long-range lateral transport of land-based pollutants.