Evaluation of water quality of Sagami River and its tributary rivers analysed by ICP-MS

Determinations of 21 trace elements were performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for water samples from Sagami River and its tributary rivers. The samples were collected during May to November 1993 monthly at 39 sampling points. The data were investigated for concentration variation of each element along the sampling points, time variation of the elements at a particular point and the elemental profile of the particular point. The results show 1) classification of the elements may be possible according to the concentration pattern from upper to lower stream, 2) elemental profiles of the individual sampling points were distinct each other and did not change much with time, and 3) the Li concentration of Hato River (at point H-2) suddenly increased by two orders of magnitude in November. It is quite feasible to use ICP-MS for trace element monitoring of river water. (author)