Integrative assessment of sediment contamination by toxic organic contaminants in an enclosed bay in South Korea

Abstract

Jinhae Bay is the largest semi-enclosed bay in South Korea and is surrounded by a high population density and various industries. Activities from this human population and development have created complicated environmental problems in the bay including hazardous chemical contamination. In order to assess the contamination status and identify the priority substances in Jinhae Bay, intensive sediment sampling was conducted and organic contaminants were analyzed. Organic contaminants were found to be widely distributed across the bay. Among the target compounds, BTs showed the highest concentration, followed by PAHs, NP, PBDEs, PCBs, DDTs, CHLs, and HCHs. The spatial distributions of the chemicals are not uniform due to geographic variability in physical environmental conditions and differences if proximity to sources of pollution. The highest concentration of BTs and PAHs were measured near a ship-building area. In contrast, the concentrations of PCBs, DDTs, PBDEs, and nonylphenol were highest at the inner parts of highly urbanized/industrialized areas with a tendency of declining from inner to outer bay. The results indicate a great loading of anthropogenic pollutants via rivers and streams flowing through industrial areas and populated cities. A wastewater treatment plant was also identified as an important source of organic contaminant in this bay. A comparison of the contaminant data from Jinhae Bay with sedimentbay including hazardous chemical contamination. In order to assess the contamination status and identify the priority substances in Jinhae Bay, intensive sediment sampling was conducted and organic contaminants were analyzed. Organic contaminants were found to be widely distributed across the bay. Among the target compounds, BTs showed the highest concentration, followed by PAHs, NP, PBDEs, PCBs, DDTs, CHLs, and HCHs. The spatial distributions of the chemicals are not uniform due to geographic variability in physical environmental conditions and differences if proximity to sources of pollution. The highest concentration of BTs and PAHs were measured near a ship-building area. In contrast, the concentrations of PCBs, DDTs, PBDEs, and nonylphenol were highest at the inner parts of highly urbanized/industrialized areas with a tendency of declining from inner to outer bay. The results indicate a great loading of anthropogenic pollutants via rivers and streams flowing through industrial areas and populated cities. A wastewater treatment plant was also identified as an important source of organic contaminant in this bay. A comparison of the contaminant data from Jinhae Bay with sediment