Masataka Hanashima*, Hiroshi Takatsuki** and Osami Nakasugi***

* Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Fukuoka University
** Professor, Environmental Preservation Center, Kyoto University
*** Director, Environmental Chemistry Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies

+ Correspondence should be addressed to Osami Nakasugi:
(16-2 Onogawa Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305 Japan)

Abstract

A large quantity of hazardous wastes was illegally dumped on Teshima island. Toxic substances, such as lead, PCB and dioxins were detected in the wastes at high concentrations. These contaminants were also detected in the groundwater beneath the wastes. Environmental contamination caused by the wastes was not been clearly detected. However, considering the direction of groundwater flow, it is highly possible that the toxic substances included in the dumped wastes penetrated into the marine environment.

Key words: hazardous wastes, illegal dumping, environmental contamination, groundwater pollution