Natural Attenuation of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Sediments by “the Rest-year Zone System” in Ocean Dumping Sites in the East Sea-Byung and the Yellow Sea-Byung, Korea

Abstract

In 2015, the concentration distribution of 36 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 27 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in bottom sediments were analyzed and compared to the records of previous years in order to evaluate the remedial effectiveness of “the rest-year zone (RY zone) system” in the dumping sites of the East Sea-Byung and the Yellow Sea-Byung, KoreaAfter of the introduction of the RY zone system in 2006, wherein dumping activities were banned, annual variation in the concentrations of POPs at the stations within RY zone have shown a gradual decrease over time by 20-80%. This indicates that the implementation of the RY zone system has been quite effective.e the remedial effectiveness of “the rest-year zone (RY zone) system” in the dumping sites of the East Sea-Byung and the Yellow Sea-Byung, KoreaAfter of the introduction of the RY zone system in 2006, wherein dumping activities were banned, annual variation in the concentrations of POPs at the stations within RY zone have shown a gradual decrease over time by 20-80%. This indicates that the implementation of the RY zone system has been quite effective.