• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.335-344
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• 2012

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) were determined in surface sediments collected from main rivers of Korea. Concentration of HCB in sediments ranged from 0.41 to 3.82 (average 1.58) ng/g, 0.08 to 6.09 (average 0.90) ng/g, 0.02 to 0.97 (average 0.30) ng/g, 0.28 to 0.59 (average 0.42) ng/g and 0.23 to 0.48 (average 0.32) ng/g in Han river, Nakdong river, Geum river, Yeongsan and Seomjin river respectively. The DDTs concentration was ranged from 0.67 to 14.20 (average 4.76) ng/g, N.D. to 10.36 (average 1.81) ng/g, N.D. to 7.26 (average 1.87) ng/g, N.D. to 3.12 (average 1.08) ng/g and 0.02 to 2.04 (average 0.56) ng/g in Han river, Nakdong river, Geum river, Yeongsan and Seomjin river respectively. In comparison with the concentration of HCB and DDTs in other studies, the values in sediments of this study were lower than those of other countries. Comparison with that Sediment quality guideline (SQG) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the HCB levels of this study were very lower than Effect Range Low (ERL) value. In the case of DDTs, the concentrations of 46 points were higher than ERL (1.58 ng/g). It have not harmful effect on ecosystem of the sediment, however ongoing monitoring of sediments is deemed necessary.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.332-339
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• 2012

Horizontal distributions and their ecotoxicological implications relating to organochlorine compounds (OCs) were determined in surface sediments sampled from the West Nakdong River. The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in surface sediments were in the range of 0.57-3.68, 0.41-8.35, 0.63-1.65, and n.d.-0.56 ng/g, respectively. DDTs represent the major OC in the West Nakdong River. Concentrations of PCBs and DDTs correlate with the total organic carbon (PCBs: r=0.874, p<0.001, and DDTs: r=0.762, p<0.05, respectively), indicating that organic content in the sediments is one of the major factors for influencing horizontal distribution of the organochlorine compounds in this river. Examining the potential poisonous character of the surface sediments to benthic organisms according to the sediment quality guideline (SQG), set out by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), we found that the concentrations of total PCBs, p,p'-DDD, and ${\gamma}$-HCH were lower than the effects range-low (ER-L) and the probable effects level (PEL). As a result, it is considered that the effect of organochlorines in the region considered on benthic organisms is very low from the perspective of environmental toxicology. However, in terms of the Canadian SQC, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, and total DDTs, respectively, exceeded the interim sediment quality guidelines (ISQG) and the threshold effect level (TEL) in 30%, 17%, and 19%, respectively, of the sediment samples analyzed.