Abstract
Sediment cores were obtained from Upo and Mokpo in Upo Wetland and core samples were divided by depth into 20 ~ 21 subsamples. The heavy metal concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, AS, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr in the sediments of each depth were determined by ICP-MS. The texture of sediemnts from Upo Wetland appeared to be clayey silt with average grain size of $7.52{\sim}11.15{\mu}m$ for physical properties. It was found to have a clear tendency of depth profile with respect to TOC and ignition loss. Organics were stabilized in the range of 0.5 ~ 0.7 % TOC and 8 ~ 9 % ignition loss in 30 years, whereas, the surficial sediments have the highest concentrations of about 3.0 % of TOC and 13 ~ 15 % ignition loss. Those are much higher than the values of the main stream, the Nakdong River, which reflects the deposit of biodegradable organics from plants and other lifes. The vertical distribution of heavy metals in two sediment cores was investigated to elucidate historical trends of heavy metals deposited into Upo wetland. The depth profile concentrations of each heavy metal were compared and discussed with the Concensus-Based Sediment Quality Guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. All the Cd data for the vertical distribution in the sediments were detected above PEC value for Cd, which predict harmful effects on sediment-dwelling organisms expected to occur frequently. The concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Cr in all sediment samples for depth profile were detected below the TEC values, which provided a basis predicting the absence of toxicity by Zn, Cu, and Cr.