Development of observation systems for global-scale marine pollution with persistent organic pollutants deployed on voluntary observation ships

We have developed the monitoring systems for marine pollution with higher flexibility in sampling station and time by using merchant vessels and by developing on automated sampling system in order to clarify the spatial and temporal variations and chemodynamics of hazardous chemicals in seawater on a global scale. Automated sampling systems were installed in both a crude carrier transporting from the Persian Gulf to Japan and a balk carrier from Australia to Japan, which observed hazardous chemicals. We had investigated the recovery rate of poly-urethane foam (PUF), active carbon fiber filters (ACF), and its composite type for solid-phase extracting materials. For measuring of persistent organic pollutants, large amounts of seawater (100 similar to 300 l) were passed through columns containing a solid phase extractor. Because of detection limits of HCHs and chlordanes were 1 pg/l and 3 pg/l, respectively, our system will be adaptable to observation of the open sea. We detected HCHs and chlordanes from many samples on these shipping lanes, and isomer patterns and spatial distributions of HCHs were characteristic.