• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.81-96
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• 2008

This study was performed to know about the characteristics of geochemicals of sampling sites in Suncheon bay. Salinity and parameters of water pollution as COD, DIN and DIP showed typical character of an estuary with its values higher at the end of estuary and gradually lowering at the up stream. The value of Excess DIN showed positive so the phosphorus appeared in a role as limiting nutrient. As quoted results of correlation analysis of SPSS and PCA, salinity was revealed as a main factor of control for water qualities at sampling sites in Suncheon bay. The Mz of wet lands and intertidal zone in Sun-cheon bay showed a variation of 6.74 to $8.52{\phi}$ and the sorting also to appeared poorly sorted to very poorly sorted. The fractional composition of phosphorus in phosphorus of sediments were high and appeared orderly as redisual-P> NAI-P> apatite-P> absorbed-P. The labile-Phosphorus showed high concentration then the other station. It means that phosphorus of these stations can easily move from the deposit to the water column than another station.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2004

This study was carried out to survey the pollution of bisphenol A(BPA) and total organic carbon(TOC) in surface sediments around Gwangyang bay. BPA is suspected chemicals as endocrine disruption. Gwangyang bay Is located on the mid south coast of Korea. It is a semi-closed bay which Yeosu petrochemical industrial complex, POSCO(Pohang Steel Company) and Gwangyang container harbor are located. The surface sediments were collected at 15 stations with gravity corer at October, 1999, February, May and August, 2000. Also, the stream and intertidal sediment were collected at 5 sites at August, 2000. Concentrations of BPA in surface sediments were in the range of 0.46 to 24.59 ng/g dry wt.. Seasonal range(mean value) of BPA are 0.59 to 9.00(1.88) ng/g dry wt. at October, 0.99 to 2.97(1.57) ng/g dry wt. at February, 0.46 to 24.59(2.53)ng/g dry wt. at May and 0.54 to 2.46 (1.29)ng/g dry wt. at August. BPA was seasonally fluctuated, and the highest mean value and range were detected at May, 2000. BPA was highly distributed in the inner part of Kwangyang bay than Yosu sound. Concentrations of BPA in stream and intertidal sediments showed the highest value in downstream near Yochon petrochemical industrial complex and Yondung stream. It suggests that the source of BPA are industrial wastewater and municipal sewage. TOC in surface sediments were in the range of 0.09∼1.22%. There was no any correlation between the BPA and TOC.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.643-658
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• 1994

The sedimentary records of anthropogenic metal loads in the Suyeong Bay, Pusan were determined by combining the Pb-210 dating technique with the measurements of heavy metals in the sediment cores. The sedimentation rates of sediment particles ranged from $0.12\;to\;0.20\;g/m^2/yr\;or\;2.4{\sim}4.0\;mm/yr$ in accumulation rates. The lowest sedimentation rate was observed at station S3 which was characterized by a bottom with relatively low organic matter contents(e.g. TIL and TOC). Heavy metals showed generally higher concentrations at station S1 and S2 near the mouth of the Suyeong River than at station S3 and the outmost station S4. The contents of copper, lead and zinc in the sediment cores especially from station S1 and S2 began to increase around 1930, and were at their highest levels in the $1960{\sim}1970$ period as a result of increasing industrial activities. Concentrations of these heavy metals have slightly decreased since 1970, probably due to regulation of pollution discharge. The natural background levels of copper, lead and zinc in the sediments of this bay ranged $18{\pm}4ppm,\;28{\pm}6ppm\;and\;74{\pm}9ppm$, respectively, by averaging the contents in the sediment depths corresponding to periods between about 1900 and 1920 at the four stations. The total amounts of anthropogenic loads deposited in the sediments since about 1930 were estimated to be $9{\sim}291{mu}g/cm^2$ for lead, $165{\sim}1122{mu}g/cm^2$ for zinc and $20{\sim}208{mu}g/cm^2$ for copper. These values were remarkably high at stations S1 and S2 relative to the other two stations. At stations S1 and S2, the anthropogenic loads of lead, copper and zinc constituted $29{\sim}30\%,\;32{\sim}42\%\;and\;28{\sim}35\%$ of the total sedimentary inventories at the present day, respectively. These metal contents have a good correlation(r>0.7) with each other and cadmium measurements also show a positive linear relation with nickel or total organic nitrogen.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.930-940
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• 2013

We evaluated contamination with organic matter and trace metals by analyzing grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, Hg, and As) in surface sediments at 28 stations around the Geum River estuary in July 2008. The surface sediments in the estuary were mainly composed of coarse sediment (sand and muddy sand), with mean grain size (Mz) ranging between $2-4{\O}$. The high concentrations of IL, COD, and trace metals were mainly found at stations in front of the Gusan outer port and industrial complex, and near the Seocheon coast with relatively fine sediments. In addition, the concentrations of IL and all trace metals, except Pb and As, showed good positive correlations with Mz, indicating that the concentrations of organic matter and trace metals were mainly dependent on sediment grain size. The concentrations of COD, AVS, and trace metals in most sediments did not exceed the sediment quality guideline (SQGs). Although the sediments in the study region are not polluted with organic matter and trace metals, there are many point sources of pollutants, such as Gusan port and industrial complex, Janghang refinery, and a thermoelectric power plant around the Geum River estuary. Thus, the management of coastal environments through periodic monitoring of organic matter and trace metals is required in the future.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.265-275
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• 2012

As climate change is becoming a growing concern and the importance of water management is increasing, the retention of carbon and nutrients in wetland soils including inland and coastal area has become important. In this study, retention characteristics of organic matter and nutrients of coastal sediment and soils in different types of wetlands such as constructed wetland, natural (inland marsh, estuary, tidal flat) wetlands were investigated. A correlation analysis was also performed to understand the relationship among organic matter properties, nutrient concentrations and soil texture of wetland soils. The degree of retention of organic matter and nitrogen in wetland soils varied with the wetland type. Inland wetlands retain more nitrogen than estuary or coastal wetlands, and natural wetlands retain more organic matter and nitrogen than constructed ones. Coastal sediments in a bay area where seawater circulation is restricted have more nutrients than those in estuary or tidal flats where seawater circulates well. The results showed that the sediment chemical oxygen demand has a high correlation with the total organic carbon and the total nitrogen in the studied area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. Even before the importance of the value of estuaries was recognized, the estuary was lost because of large-scale conversion by draining, filling, damming, and dredging. In South Korea, 643 estuaries are located, and the total area is 3,248,300 ha, accounting for 32.5% of the total area of South Korea. Over 35% of Korean estuaries are closed estuaries which are only temporally connected with the sea, either permanently or periodically. Since 2008, in order to preserve the estuary ecosystem and solve major issues in the estuary by accumulating knowledge about the estuarine ecosystem, the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea has been conducting the "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project". At 668 sites of 325 estuaries, epilithic diatom, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and vegetation are investigated, and the habitat condition of each site is evaluated using the newly developed biotic index. More than 100 researchers annually record 2,097 species of estuaries according to the standardized survey guidelines over the past 14 years and provide strictly managed data necessary for establishing estuaries conservation policies. As a result of bibliometric analysis of 1,195 research articles related to the monitoring and assessment of the estuarine ecosystem, research on pollutants such as heavy metals and sediment control have recently been conducted. "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project" is an ecological monitoring type of long-term mandated monitoring that is usually focused on identifying trends. Although it is difficult to identify the mechanism influencing a change in an ecosystem through long-term mandated monitoring, providing empirical data for supporting evidence-based policy, decision-making, and the management of ecosystems. In order to increase the efficiency of the project, research to investigate the relationship between sediments and pollutants and organisms can be conducted at specific estuaries or sites to compensate for the shortcomings of mandatory monitoring.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2003

This study was conducted to evaluate distribution and behavior characteristics of heavy metals for tidal flat sediments in the Saemankeum area. The value of heavy metal contents in the tidal flat sediments were higher than that surveyed in 1994, but showing that it's lower when compared with the value of Shiwha lake. Enrichment factors in the tidal flat sediments showed below 1 except for Pb and Zn. Metal excesses was appeared that Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn lacked and Pb, Zn were high. The correlation analysis between heavy metals and organic matters was found high positive relationship (r=0.424$\~$0.839), especially correlation coefficient between ignition loss and oxide Al, Fe, Mn showed high positive relationship above 0.7. The correlation analysis between Brain size and hear metals was found that as grain size was small, heavy metals contents were increased. Correlation coefficient between silt and heavy metals except for Cu, Pb showed high positive relationship as 0.552$\~$0.732.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.133-147
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• 2004

Environmental quality(water and sediment) was analyzed in the tidal flat of Saemangum of Jeonbuk Province, the west coast of Korea, using the 101 sediment samples and 69 water samples collected in September 4~13, 2001. Major water quality parameters with the means of 69 surface water samples are as follows; $25.51{\pm}0.68^{\circ}C$ for water temperature, $29.88{\pm}5.01$ for salinity, $1.40{\pm}0.78mg/L$ for COD, $0.352{\pm}0.417mg/L$ for DIN, and $0.027{\pm}0.023mg/L$ for phosphate, respectively. Higher values were found at the subestuary of Dongjin and Mangyung River, and lower values at the Saemangum embayment and Gomso Bay. There was a significant negative correlation between salinity and the other water quality parameters(p<0.0001) such as COD, nutrients, SS and N/P. This correlation suggested that the major pollution sources be from terrestrial inputs through tributaries in this area. Principal component analysis clearly revealed a spatial variation of water quality; stations with higher values of nutrients and COD located subestuary of tributaries. 14 sediment quality parameters including 8 trace metals were measured using the 101 surface sediment samples. Average values for the parameters are as follows; Al $2.28{\pm}0.92%$, Cd $0.61{\pm}0.27ppm$, Cu $8.95{\pm}4.06ppm$, Fe $1.19{\pm}0.37%$, Mn $182.31{\pm}77.45ppm$, Ni $10.83{\pm}4.97ppm$, Pb $15.20{\pm}4.35ppm$, Zn $41.34{\pm}34.62ppm$, COD $2.68{\pm}1.85mg/g\;dry$, AVS $0.04{\pm}0.08mg/g\;dry$, IL $1.29{\pm}1.08%$, water content $24.11{\pm}4.49%$, TN $0.02{\pm}0.02%$, TC $0.22{\pm}0.30%$. Spatial variations of sediment quality were not clear as water quality. Some higher values were found at the subestuary of Gum River and lower values at the other area. There was a significant positive correlation between the heavy metal concentrations and organic materials within the sediment(p<0.05). Enrichment factors showed the ranges of 1~2 for most of the metals in the sediment except zinc(1~6), indicating no serious exogenous input of heavy metals in the study area. Also, the heavy metal concentrations in the sediment were within the ranges found at the natural marine environments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.44-55
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• 1998

Imgok creek is the most severly polluted one out of the streams which have been being polluted by acid drainages from the abandoned coal mines in the Gangdong-Myeon area, the central part of the so called Gangreung coal field. Imgok creek is being mainly polluted by the drainage from Youngdong coal mine, which supplies such pollutants as Mg, Fe, Al, Si, Ca, Mn, and SO$_4$as major dissolved components and Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Cd, Pb, and U as minor dissolved components. After the influx, the pollutants migrate mainly as dissolved solid, rather than as suspended solids along Imgok creek. The suspended solids in Imgok creek are very rich in Fe and Al, indicating that they mainly consist of the precipitates of present and past from the polluted water. Most of the dissolved components in the stream waters of Imgok creek removed from the aqueous phase by precipitation and dilution before reaching the East Sea, so that water quality of the downstreams of Imgok creek is very similar to that of unpolluted tributaries. It suggests that Imgok creek itself is now being severly polluted by the acid drainages from the abandoned coal mines, but the East Sea is relatively safe from the same pollution. The estuary and sea waters around the Goonseon estuary, which accepts Imgok creek water, certainly show no significant difference in chemical compositions from the mean oceanic water. The bottom sediments at the sampling sites of the sea waters also show no significant trend of their component variation, especially the variations of Fe, SO$_4$ and Al concentrations. These facts again supper that the acid mine drainage is not considerablly polluting the East Sea. However, the tributaries supplying the fresh water to the Imgok creek will be certainly polluted by the acid mine drainage as time passes and pollutants will have more chance to migrate in significant amount to the downstream area, which all can be a real threats to the East Sea on the pollution possibility. Therefore, it is suggested that urgently required are not only water quality and environmental improvement of the severely polluted Imgok creek but also preparation of the measures on the possible future pollution of the East Sea by the acid drainage from the abandoned coal mines in the area, while the East Sea is still not much affected by the pollution of the same kind.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.29-43
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• 2007

For effective management of water quality on the southern coast of korea, a three-dimensional eco-hydrodynamic model is used to predict water quality in summer and to estimate the reduction rate in pollutant loads that would be required to restore water quality. Under the current environmental conditions, in particular, pollutant loadings to the study area were very high, chemical oxygen demand (COD) exceeded seawater quality criteria to comply with current legislation, and water quality was in a eutrophic condition. Therefore, we estimated reduction rates of current pollutant loads by modeling. The model reproduced reasonably the flow field and water quality of the study area. If the terrestrial COD, inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus loads were reduced by 90%, the water quality criteria of Region A were still not satisfied. However, when the nutrient loads from polluted sediment and land were each reduced by 70% simultaneously, COD and $Chl-{\alpha}$ were restored. When we reduced the input COD and nutrient loads from the Nakdong River by 80%, $Chl-{\alpha}$ and COD of Region B decreased below $10\;{\mu}g\;1^{-1}$ and $2\;mg\;1^{-1}$, respectively. The water quality criteria of Region C were satisfied when we reduced the terrestrial COD and nutrient loads by 70%. Total allowable loadings of COD and inorganic nutrients in each region were determined by multiplying the reduction rates by current pollutant loads. Estimated high reduction rates, although difficult to achieve at the present time under the prevailing environmental conditions, suggest that water pollution is very severe in this study area, and pollutant loads must be reduced within total allowable loads by continuous and long-term management. To achieve the reduction in pollutant loads, sustainable countermeasures are necessary, including the expansion of sewage and wastewater facilities, polluted sediment control and limited land use.