Evaluation of lead concentration by one-box type multimedia model in Lake Biwa-Yodo River basin of Japan

Abstract

A one box type multimedia model was developed and applied for Lake Biwa-Yodo River basin in Japan to assess the distribution of lead in the environment. This model is based on mass balance and includes four environmental media; the atmosphere, the soil, the water body, and the sediment. The mass balance of lead is represented by the summation of mass transfer flux at equilibrium, emission flux, advection flux, and deposition flux or sedimentation flux. In the case of metallic compounds, dissolution rate and exchange equilibrium have also been taken into consideration. Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry (PRTR) in Japan was used as one of the major data source for this study. The emission of lead in Lake Biwa-Yodo River basin is calculated based on five sources of registered emission in PRTR, unregistered emission in PRTR, incinerators, leaded gasoline, and landfills. In this study, we estimated lead emission from 1957 to 2007 to observe the temporal accumulation of lead. Calculated lead concentrations were compared with the measured/observed concentrations. It was found out that the model could closely predict lead concentration in the soil and the water body. The concentration in the atmosphere was underestimated by the calculated concentrations. The reason was attributed to the underestimation of the amount of lead emission from incinerators.