Distribution of Heavy Metal Contents in Sediment of the Lower Kumho River

금호강하류의 저니중 중금속 함량분포

This study was performed to investigate the contents of six heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) with respect to the particle sizes and depths in sediment collected at nine sites of the lower Kumho river. The mean Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn contents in sediment of all sites ranged from 1.59~5.32 mg/kg, 17.4~301.7 mg/kg, 23.2~399.9 mg/kg, 9.48~116.8 mg/kg, 31.1~294.1 mg/kg and 74.2~964.3 mg/kg, respectively. The highest heavy metal contents was generally found to be Zn and lowest was Cd. The mean contents of heavy metal by particle sizes (1.0~0.5, 0.5~ 0.25, <0.25 mm)was the highest in particle sizes less than 0.25 mm, but the coefficients of variation was lowest in particle sizes less than 0.25 mm. Mean contents and coefficient of variation by depths (0~5 cm, 5~10 cm, 10~15 cm) were generally found to be higher in the upper parts of sediment than in the lower parts of sediment. Organic substances were found to be higher as the particle sizes become more small. Moreover, contents of heavy metal increased with the amounts of organic substances in sediment.