• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.639-649
• /
• 2017

Measurements of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were taken in surface sediments inside Seogwipo and Hallim Harbors of Jeju Island, Korea, to evaluate their distribution. These harbors typically have heavy ship traffic. The samples were collected three times (in June, October, and December, 2013). PCB concentrations in sediments from Seogwipo Harbor were higher than in those from Hallim Harbor, but both levels were very low, compared with those in other parts of the world. Sedimentary PCB levels had a strong correlation with organic carbon and fine granule mud content. PCB concentration values in the examined surface sediments were much lower than Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) such as ER-L (Effect Rrange-Low), TEL (Threshold Effects Level) and ISQG (Interim Sediment Quality Guideline)-low value applied in countries, such as USA, Canada, and Australia. This suggests that the PCBs did not have significant biological effects on benthic organisms in the marine environment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.930-940
• /
• 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
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2008

Sediment cores were obtained from Upo and Mokpo in Upo Wetland and core samples were divided by depth into 20 ~ 21 subsamples. The heavy metal concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, AS, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr in the sediments of each depth were determined by ICP-MS. The texture of sediemnts from Upo Wetland appeared to be clayey silt with average grain size of $7.52{\sim}11.15{\mu}m$ for physical properties. It was found to have a clear tendency of depth profile with respect to TOC and ignition loss. Organics were stabilized in the range of 0.5 ~ 0.7 % TOC and 8 ~ 9 % ignition loss in 30 years, whereas, the surficial sediments have the highest concentrations of about 3.0 % of TOC and 13 ~ 15 % ignition loss. Those are much higher than the values of the main stream, the Nakdong River, which reflects the deposit of biodegradable organics from plants and other lifes. The vertical distribution of heavy metals in two sediment cores was investigated to elucidate historical trends of heavy metals deposited into Upo wetland. The depth profile concentrations of each heavy metal were compared and discussed with the Concensus-Based Sediment Quality Guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. All the Cd data for the vertical distribution in the sediments were detected above PEC value for Cd, which predict harmful effects on sediment-dwelling organisms expected to occur frequently. The concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Cr in all sediment samples for depth profile were detected below the TEC values, which provided a basis predicting the absence of toxicity by Zn, Cu, and Cr.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2010

The main purpose of this study is to offer informations about the current conditions and basic data of sediments for the urban streams in the Busan city. Total 14 urban streams were selected and sediment samples were collected. Then, It was investigated the sediment qualities though the measurement of pH, proximate analysis, elemental analysis, COD, organic carbon content, volatile solid content and heavy metal concentration. Results show that COD, organic carbon content, volatile solid content and heavy metal concentration of sediment are determined in the range of $1.20{\sim}75.07mg\;L^{-1}$, 0.19~11.54%, 0.23~34.21% and $0.4{\sim}732.6mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Finally, Analysis data of sediments were compared with USEPA sediment quality standards and ontario sediment quality guidelines. As a result, when compared with USEPA sediment quality standards, total 9 samples were evaluated as heavily polluted and total 3 samples were evaluated as moderately polluted. But, when compared with ontario sediment quality guidelines, total 3 samples were evaluated as Severe effect level and total 10 samples were evaluated as lowest effect level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 1999.10a
• /
• pp.34-38
• /
• 1999

This paper investigated remediation options for contaminated sediments with heavy metals. Twenty three sediment samples were taken from three different depths of 0.5m, 1.5m and 2.5m. The concentration of Heavy metals Cu, Pb, and Hg were measured. The concentration of copper far exceeded the Sediment Quality Guideline in U.S.A and Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines in Canada. Therefore, remediation of the sediments is requried to protect the benthos. Two remediation options were suggested : dredging of the organic sediments as deep as about 85cm followed by surface covers with clean soil, and in-situ stabilization of tile sediments using lime or cement followed by surface cover with clean soil.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of metal pollution in the sediment from rivers, lakes, and streams in active gold mining districts in Ghana. Two hundred and fifty surface sediment samples from 99 locations were collected and analyzed for concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Mn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Metal concentrations were then used to assess the human health risks to resident children and adults in central tendency exposure (CTE) and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) scenarios. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were almost twice the threshold values established by the Hong Kong Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQG). Hg, Cu, and Cr concentrations in sediment were 14, 20, and 26 times higher than the Canadian Freshwater Sediment Guidelines for these elements. Also, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cr, and Hg were 3, 11, 12, and 16 times more than the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) sediment guideline values. The results of the human health risk assessment indicate that for ingestion of sediment under the central tendency exposure (CTE) scenario, the cancer risks for child and adult residents from exposure to As were $4.18{\times}10^{-6}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-7}$, respectively. This suggests that up to 4 children out of one million equally exposed children would contract cancer if exposed continuously to As over 70 years (the assumed lifetime). The hazard index for child residents following exposure to Cr(VI) in the RME scenario was 4.2. This is greater than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) threshold of 1, indicating that adverse health effects to children from exposure to Cr(VI) are possible. This study demonstrates the urgent need to control industrial emissions and the severe heavy metal pollution in gold mining environments.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.454-466
• /
• 2013

To evaluate the organic matter and trace metal pollution in intertidal sediment of the coastal zone, various geochemical parameters (grain size, ignition loss [IL], chemical oxygen demand [COD], acid volatile sulfide [AVS], and metals [Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Hg, and As]) were measured for the intertidal surface sediment of the mainland and islands between Mokpo and Haenam in the southwestern coast of Korea. The surface sediments consist mainly of finer sediments, such as mud and silt. The concentrations of IL, COD, and trace metals in intertidal sediment were relatively high in the shoreline of the mainland than in that of islands and those in some stations exceeded the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Moreover, the concentrations of IL, COD, and trace metals (except As) in sediment showed relatively good positive correlations with mean grain size, indicating that the concentrations of organic matter and trace metals in intertidal sediment of the study region are dependent on grain size of sediment. Pollution evaluation for trace metals using geochemical assessment techniques, such as enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, and SQGs, suggested that the intertidal sediments in the study region show light pollution with Cr and moderate pollution with As. More extensive interdisciplinary studies are required to determine the potential causes of As pollution in intertidal sediment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.759-771
• /
• 2011

We evaluated the pollution levels of organic matter and metallic element (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, As, and Hg) in the intertidal surface sediments of Aphae Island using several sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and assessment techniques for sediment pollution. Based on the textural composition of sediment, the surface sediments were classified into two main sedimentary facies: slightly gravelly mud and silt. The concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) in the sediments ranged from 4.6-9.9 (mean $7.4{\pm}1.1$) $mgO_2/g{\cdot}dry$ and from ND-0.53 (mean $0.04{\pm}0.10$) mgS/$g{\cdot}dry$, respectively. These values were considerably lower than those reported from a farming area in a semi-enclosed bay of Korea and for SQGs in Japan. The metallic element concentrations in the sediments varied widely with the mean grain size and organic matter content, implying that the concentrations of metallic elements are influenced mainly by secondary factors, such as bioturbation, the resuspension of sediment, and anthropogenic input. The overall results for the comparison with SQGs, enrichment factor (EF), and geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$) indicate that the surface sediments are slightly polluted by Cr and Ni, and moderately polluted by As. Our results suggest that the intertidal surface sediments of Aphae Island are not polluted by organic matter or metallic elements and the benthic conditions are suitable for healthy organisms.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.171-184
• /
• 2016

In order to assess the level of contamination and identify the priority contaminants in the Busan coast, intensive sediment sampling was conducted and persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals were analyzed. The Sediment Quality Index (SQI) was derived based on the contaminant data by comparing with Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) established in Korea, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand. Toxic contaminants were found to be widely distributed across the coast. Among organic contaminants, PAHs showed the highest concentration, followed by butyltins, nonylphenols, PBDEs, DDTs, PCBs, HCHs and CHLs. Heavy metals were also abundantly detected with the highest concentration of Zn followed by Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > As > Cd > Hg. Compared to organic contaminants, most heavy metals, except for Cu and Hg, were homogeneously distributed along the coast in a good relationship with total organic carbon of sediment particles. In general, the concentrations of organic compounds and heavy metals were highest at the inner part of harbor areas with a tendency to decline from inside areas to the outside, indicating the high loading of pollutants from harbors. A high exceedance for low-SQGs and high-SQGs was found for TBT, p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, Cu and Zn. The SQI scores calculated from low-SQGs and high-SQGs were in the range of 18-100 and 54-100, respectively. The inner part of Busan Harbor, Dadaepo Harbor, and Gamcheon Harbor were observed as being regions of concern. Overall, TBT, Cu, and p,p'-DDT were the chemicals most frequently exceeding SQGs and influencing SQI scores.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.1014-1025
• /
• 2014

We measured the concentrations of various geochemical parameters [grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, As, Zn, and Hg)] in the surface sediments of two intertidal oyster Crassostrea gigas farming areas (Iwon and Mongsan tidal flats) on the Taean Peninsula, Korea, to evaluate the pollution level of organic matter and trace metals in sediment. The intertidal sediments in the study region comprise mostly sand with a mean grain size of 2.5-3.5 Ø. The concentrations of IL, COD, AVS, and trace metals in the sediment of two study regions were either similar or lower in oyster farming areas relative to non-farming areas, apparently due to biological uptake or physical and biological sediment reworking. Based on the results for the pollution evaluation of organic matter and trace metals derived from sediment quality guidelines, enrichment factor, and geoaccumulation index, our results suggest that the sediment in these two intertidal oyster farming regions is not polluted by organic matter and trace metals.