Concentrations of PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) in coastal sediments of Korea

국내 연안 퇴적물내 PCBs(Polychlorinated Biphenyls) 오염도 현황

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) is one of major toxic pollutants in marine environments, This artificial chlorinated compound has been found in freshwater, seawater, soil, sediments and organismes living in various environments. Because of its toxicity and degradability, its uses in industrial processes have been banned after 1984 in Korea. Coastal area is an important environment for agriculture, industry, transportation, reduction of pollution loads through biogeochemical processes, cycling of nutrients and recreation. Input of pollutants from land and freshwater has been occurring through runoff, rivers and estuaries. Concentrations of PCBs were determined with GC-ECD. Concentrations of PCBs were in the range of 1.0 - 19.2 ng/g-dry weight of sediment(g-d.w.) at Ulsan, 4.5 -8,2 ng/g-d.w. at Onsan, 2.7 - 33.5 ng/g-d.w. at Masan and 4.0 - 60.7 ng/g-d.w. in Kwangyang, In Inchon area, PCBs were not detected in sediments. In sediments of Nakdong estuary, the distribution of PCBs' concentrations was 0.19 - 303 ng/g-d.w.