• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.580-586
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• 2017

The fractionation characteristics of organic matter were investigated in inflow and effluent of each other pollution sources and river. While the DOC/TOC ratio in the influent of public sewage treatment plant and livestock disposal facilities was above 0.58, the POC/TOC ratio of human livestock Night soil treatment plant and stormwater runoff was more than 0.7. The TOC removal efficiency of public sewage treatment plant and human livestock Night soil treatment plant were 88.5 % and 99.6 %, respectively. Although the concentration distribution of organic matter pollution most of total organic carbon (TOC) in effluent of pollution sources accounted for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) type (DOC/TOC ratio >0.89) and Refractory-DOC (RDOC)/TOC ratio was higher (>0.65). The fractionation characteristics of organic matter in river were similar with that of sewage treatment plant and TOC concentration showed the positive correlation with DOC ($r^2=0.93$) and RDOC ($r^2=0.89$) concentration. The decay rate of Labile DOC (LDOC) (avg. $0.128day^{-1}$) was higher than labile particulate organic carbon (LPOC) ($0.082day^{-1}$), while that of DOC ($0.008day^{-1}$) was lower than POC ($0.039day^{-1}$) (paired t-test, p < 0.001, n = 5). These study results suggested that it should consider important both TOC and DOC as the target indicator to control refractory organic matter in pollution sources.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.487-500
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• 2021

To evaluate the geochemical characteristics and assess the pollution in surface sediments of the Nakdong River estuary, two sites adjacent to the estuary bank (Hh1 and Hh2) and one site at the upper part of the estuary bank (Hh3) were investigated. The surface sediments were analyzed for their contents of metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, and Al), organic matter (IL, COD, TOC, and TN), and grain size from 2018 to 2020. As a result of the pollution assessment, there was little anthropogenic contamination by most of the metals. The surface sediments in Hh2 had comparatively abundant silt and clay, whereas the other sites were mainly composed of sand. The organic index and contents of organic matter were highest at Hh2. Multivariate statistical analyses (cluster analysis and Pearson correlation analysis) showed that the contents of organic matter and pollution were associated with fine sediment. These results suggest that the geochemical characteristics were changed by the estuary bank built in the research area and that the increase in fine sediment attributable to the low-energy environment resulted in an increase in organic matter pollution.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.393-399
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• 2013

To control organic matters, it needs to manage not only biodegradable organic matters but also refractory organic matters. Refractory organic matters from municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, non-point sources and etc., have been continuously discharged to the near watersheds. It is estimated that the refractory organic matter ratios are continuously increased in waterbody. In watersheds of the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), it was investigated that COD/BOD ratios increased in many unit watersheds of the 4 major river basins. The portions COD/BOD ratios increased were found to be a 97% of Geum River unit watersheds, a 81% of Yeongsan/Seumjin River unit watersheds, a 78% of Nakdong River unit watersheds, a 70% of Han River unit watersheds, respectively. Therefore, it has become important for establishment of effective management strategies to control refractory organic matter in watersheds of the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). In order to properly manage organic matters including refractory organic matters, the present organic indicator (BOD) has to be converted to TOC (or COD). Compared to COD and BOD, TOC, as a organic matter indicator, is evaluated more appropriate.

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

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2009

In order to understand the impacts of the construction of artificial sea dikes on carbon cycle in Samangeum area being a closed environment after April, 2006, we had measured suspended particulate matters, particulate and dissolved organic carbon in the surface water of inner Saemangeum dike from 2003 to 2006. The significant inputs of suspended particulate matter and organic carbon were mainly occurred during the wet season which suggests that most organic matter loading is concentrated within a short period of time inside the dike. The concentrations of particulate matter and organic carbon have gradually increasing every year inside of dike from the Mangyeong river estuary to Saemangeum dike, which has been closed since 2003 after the construction of the 4th dike. The particulate organic carbon increased due to the phytoplankton blooms by eutrophication. If the large portion of particulate organic matter produced in the surface water sink to the bottom sediment, this will cause the anoxic condition in this closed environment.

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

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

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.699-709
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• 2017

We measured the grain size, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn) in order to understand the spatial distribution and pollution level of organic matter and metals in surface sediment around Goseong Bay, a shellfish farming area, Korea. The surface sediments were composed of finer sediments such as mud and clay. The concentration of TOC, TN, and heavy metals were much higher in the innermost bay than in the mouth and outside of bay. The spatial distribution of organic matter and heavy metals and C/N ratio (5-10) in sediment showed that the organic matter and heavy metals in sediment of the study region were significantly influenced by oceanic origin organic matter and anthropogenic sources, respectively. Based on the results of four assessment techniques (sediment quality guideline, geoaccumulation index, pollution load index, ecological risk index), the sediments around the Goseong Bay were a little polluted for heavy metals and the high metal concentrations in the northern region of bay could adverse impact on benthic organisms in sediment. Thus, the systematic management plan for the improvement of water and sediment environment and the concentrated monitoring of pollutants for sustainable aquaculture and seafood safety around Goseong Bay are necessary in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.487-493
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• 2018

Urban stormwater runoff is the one of the most extensive causes of deterioration of water quality in streams in urban areas. Especially, in the Suyeong River watershed, non-point sources from urban-residential areas are the most common cause of water pollution. Also, it has been ascertained that BOD and COD as indexes of organic matter, have limitation on management of Suyeong River's water quality. In this study, changes of organic matter properties of Suyeong River from inflow of non-point source during rainfall were investigated. Fractions of organic matters were analyzed using water samples collected at two sites (Suyeong River and Oncheon Stream) during a rain event. Variations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration by rainfall were similar to flow rate change in the river. Distribution of organic matter fraction according to change of rain duration revealed that while hydrophilic component increased at initial rainfall, the hydrophobic component was similar to change in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration. Also, the relative proportion of hydrophilic components in organic matter in river water increased, due to rainfall. Results of biodegradation of organic matters revealed that decomposition rate of organic matters during rainfall was higher than that of during a non-rainfall event.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.392-402
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• 2020

We investigated the concentrations of acid volatile sulfide (AVS), ignition loss (IL), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and metallic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn), in August 2015, to determine the spatial distribution and pollution status of organic matter and metals in the surface sediment of Jinju Bay, a spraying shellfish farming area, Korea. The concentrations of organic matter and metallic elements were significantly higher in the southern part of the bay than in the mouth and center of the bay. The C/N ratio (5.7~8.0) in the sediment represents the dominance of organic matter of oceanic origin in the surface sediment of the study area. The concentrations of AVS, TOC, and metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) were much lower than the values of the sediment quality guidelines applied in Korea. Based on the results of the pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI), the metal concentrations in the surface sediment of Jinju Bay have a weakly negative ecological effect on benthic organisms although the sediments with high metal pollution status are distributed in the southern parts of the bay, with high dense shellfish farming areas. Thus, the surface sediments in Jinju Bay are not polluted with organic matter and are slightly polluted with metallic elements.