Unfamiliar names such as antimony and indium are minor metals used in the production of LCD and LED panels. Traces of these metals are contained in the atmospheric dust from the eastern region of continental Asia. The analysis of alpine lake sediments in the mountains of the Hachimantai have revealed that the accumulation rate of these metals is rapidly increasing in the past 30 years. The atmospheric dust also included nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen that are contributing to the eutrophication progression in the pristine lakes of the Hachimantai. Together with antimony and indium, reportedly toxic to humans, the research results show the impact of the atmospheric dust is a pressing issue upon the ecology and health of the nation.

The research results concerning the minor metals are contained in the international environmental science journal Science of the Total Environment on January 2013. The results regarding the eutrophication of the lakes are published in the sixth issue of the international ecological science journal Ecological Research on December 2012.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Jotaro Urabe

Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-795-6681

E-mail: urabe*m.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)