A Study on the Heavy Metal Contents in Fish and Sediments of the Mankyung River

일부 河川流域의 淡水魚와 沈積土의 중금속 함량에 관한 연구

Pollution in the rivers has received considerable attention in recent years, particullary with reference to the effect due to increasing concentration of heavy metals. The metals are toxic to the ecosystem as a whole and to man in particular, since he is at the end of a variety of food chains by virture of his varigated diet. In addition, numerous laboratory tests have established that certain metals, such as Cd, pose a threat to a wide variety of aquatic organisms at concentrations as low as a few $\mu$g/1. Before the biological effects of heavy metals in impacted ecosystems can be completely assessed, however it is necessary to provide data on the concentration of heavy metals in such systems. This study was performed to investigate the concentration level of heavy metals in water, fish and sediments from upstream ($S_1-S_4$) to downstream ($S_5-S_9$) of the Mankyung river. Samples of water, fish, and sediments were collected along the tributaries of the Mankyung from September to October in 1987 and analyzed for lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. From the data presented in this study, we can infer that the concentrations of the heavy metals investigated both in water and sediments are similar to those found in literature for unpolluted regions. The results obtained from the analysis of the edible tissue of the C. auratus show low concentration levels of the four heavy metals investigated. We conclude that the area is still relatively unpolluted and recommended continuing the monitoring of heavy metal concentrations to improve our understanding of their cycle in the river environment.