A research team led by Masayuki Morohashi, Senior Researcher of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research, in collaboration with researchers from Niigata Prefecture, Kanazawa University, Niigata University, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences, and Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, attempted to determine the concentrations of dissolved trace elements in precipitation and stream water in a small forest catchment in Niigata, Japan. It was found that in winter, deposition of not only sulfate ions but also trace elements tends to increase due to seasonal winds. In addition, stable isotope ratio analysis suggested that the location may be mutually influenced by transboundary air pollution and local pollution.
Their findings were published in the Sep. 2, 2024 issue as open-access.
Papers:
Morohashi, M., Saito, T., Takahashi, M., Inomata, Y., Nakata, M., Ohno, M., Kose, T., Ohizumi, T., Shin, K-C., Tayasu, I., & Sase, H. “Variations of dissolved trace elements in precipitation and stream water in Japanese forest area: additional evidence of changing air pollution in the region,” Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment, Volume 18, article number 18 (2024), doi: 10.1007/s44273-024-00040-1.
Part of this study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP18K11616, JP22H02401, and JP23K23666, the EANET Project Fund (2022-02, 2023-01, and 2024-01), and the Joint Research Grant for the Environmental Isotope Study of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). The isotope ratio analysis was conducted for Long-term Monitoring of Transboundary Air Pollution and Acid Deposition by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan.
Link: Publication (Open a new window)
