Integrative assessment of sediment contamination by toxic substances in Jinhae Bay, South Korea

Abstract

Jinhae Bay is the largest semi-enclosed bay in South Korea and is surrounded by a highpopulation density and various industries. Activities from this human population anddevelopment have created complicated environmental problems in the bay includinghazardous chemical contamination. Assessment of sediment quality by integrating a numberof chemical contaminants is required to proper management of coastal environments. Totalthirty two target pollutants were quantitatively determined in surface sediments at eightystations from Jinhae Bay. The sediment quality index (SQI) was derived based on thepollutant data by comparing with sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) established in Korea,Canada, and Autstraila/Newzealand (ANZECC), and sediment quality of Jinhae Bay wasassessed and characterized. The total twenty one out of thirty two variables exceeded SQGlow value. Eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (1-16%), three organochlorine pesticides(3-9%), TBT (95%), nonylphenol (1%), and seven heavy metals (1-36%) exceeded the SQGlow values. Lindane (γ-HCH) (1%), p,p-DDT (5%), TBT (20%), Cr (1%) and Zn (4%)exceeded the SQG high values. The highest exceedance percentage were found for TBTand followed by As, Cd, Pb, Hg, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, Zn, Cu, and p,p-DDT. The SQIscores calculated from low-SQGs were in the range of 46-100. Among eighty stationssurveyed, total fifty nine stations (74%) we bay includinghazardous chemical contamination. Assessment of sediment quality by integrating a numberof chemical contaminants is required to proper management of coastal environments. Totalthirty two target pollutants were quantitatively determined in surface sediments at eightystations from Jinhae Bay. The sediment quality index (SQI) was derived based on thepollutant data by comparing with sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) established in Korea,Canada, and Autstraila/Newzealand (ANZECC), and sediment quality of Jinhae Bay wasassessed and characterized. The total twenty one out of thirty two variables exceeded SQGlow value. Eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (1-16%), three organochlorine pesticides(3-9%), TBT (95%), nonylphenol (1%), and seven heavy metals (1-36%) exceeded the SQGlow values. Lindane (γ-HCH) (1%), p,p-DDT (5%), TBT (20%), Cr (1%) and Zn (4%)exceeded the SQG high values. The highest exceedance percentage were found for TBTand followed by As, Cd, Pb, Hg, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, Zn, Cu, and p,p-DDT. The SQIscores calculated from low-SQGs were in the range of 46-100. Among eighty stationssurveyed, total fifty nine stations (74%) we