• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.296-305
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• 2021

This work investigated heavy metal pollution in surface sediments of rivers in Busan, Korea. Surface sediments were analyzed in order to conduct contamination assessment of organic matter, nutrients, and heavy metal concentrations. Contamination assessment of heavy metals was conducted using geoaccumulation index (I_geo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). Accumulation of organic matter and nutrients were affected by water discharged from sewage treatment plant. The concentrations of organic matter and nutrients were found to be greater in points which were close to the sewage treatment plant more than points furthest. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, and Ni were found to be greater in surface sediment more than in the background. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were in the order of Zn (323.5 mg/kg) > Cu (70.5 mg/kg) > Pb (39.8 mg/kg) > Cr (33.4 mg/kg) > Ni (13.5 mg/kg) > As (9.4 mg/kg) > Cd (0.84 mg/kg) > Hg (0.092 mg/kg). The result of geoaccumulation indices indicated that Hg > Cr > Cu > Ni > Zn > As > Pb > Cd were found in order of severe contamination by heavy metals. From PLI and RI analysis, it was evident that the Suyeonggang 2 was the most contaminated river.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2014

Total concentration and chemical speciation of trace metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Ni) were determined to evaluate pollution level and potential ecological risk in surface sediments of the Masan Bay. The results showed that the trace metal concentrations, except for Ni, were high in the inner Masan Bay. Based on the chemical speciation of metals in sediments, the percentage of total concentrations of Cd and Pb in non-residual fraction was 92% and 88%, respectively, indicating that these metals originated mainly from anthropogenic sources. However, Ni (70%) was dominant in residual fraction. Pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI) values in the inner bay indicate the presence of anthropogenic pollution and considerable-moderate ecological risk, respectively. Ecological index (Ei) value for Cd was high at most stations in the Masan Bay, and Cd content was the highest in acid soluble fraction, which presents the highest ecological risk. The results obtained in this study indicate that Cd presents a high potential ecological risk to benthic biota in the Masan Bay.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.477-488
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• 2018

In this study, heavy metal levels at the sediment monitoring network site upstream of the Gangjeong-Goryeong weir in the Nakdong River were surveyed from 2012 to 2016. We assessed the sediment pollution level using various pollution indexes based on ICP-MS analysis. The stream sediment pollution assessment standard, established through Regulation No. 687 of the National Institute of Environmental Research (2015), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (RI), and mean PEL Quotient (mPELQ) were used to evaluate the sediment pollution level. We verified the representativeness of the monitoring point through the distribution of sedimentation and scour behavior by river bed surveying using anacousticDopplercurrentprofiler.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1085-1099
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• 2019

We investigated the spatial and temporal variation in characteristics and pollution assessment of sediments in the watersheds of Andong-Dam and Imha-Dam, in Korea. Surface sediments were collected from six sites once a year for three years (2015-2017), and analyzed for organic matter (water content, IL, COD, TOC, TN, and TP), grain size, and concentration of trace metals (Al, Li, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, and As). Organic matter generally tended to increase, and was higher in the Andong watershed compare to Imha watershed. Surface sediments were mainly composed of silt. Coarse sediments were mainly distributed at the site adjacent to Andong-Dam, and showed fining after coarsening. Fine sediment were mainly distributed at the site adjacent to Imha-Dam, and were gradually coarsening. Concentration of trace metals generally tended to increase, and was higher for sites in watershed of Andong watershed (PLI > 1) than for sites in Imha watershed (PLI < 1). Trace metals in the study area were considered to be affected by fine sediment (silt), and contamination of trace metals was somewhat affected by Pb, and greatly affected by Zn and As.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.717-726
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• 2022

This study was conducted to assess the geochemical contamination degree of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn in the soil and water samples from an abandoned gold mine. Enrichment Factor (EF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were carried out to assess the geochemical contamination degree of the soil samples. Variations of sulfate and heavy metals concentration in water samples were determined to identify the geochemical distribution with respect to the distance from the mine tailing dam. Geochemical pollution indices indicated significant contaminated with As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in the soil samples that areas close to the mine tailing dam, while, Sb showed similar indices in all soil samples. These results indicated that the As, Cd, Pb, and Zn dispersion has occurred via anthropogenic sources, such as mining activities. In terms of water samples, anomalies in the concentrations of As, Cd, Zn, and SO₄^2- was determined at specific area, in addition, the concentrations of the elements gradually decreased with distance. This result implies the heavy metals distribution in water has carried out by the weathering of sulfide minerals in the mine tailing and soil. The study area has been conducted the remediation of contaminated soil in the past, however, the geochemical dispersion of heavy metals was supposed to be occurred from the potential contamination source. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the soil and water is necessary after the completion of remediation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2016

Heavy metals in the stream sediments around Shihwa Lake were studied not only to investigate the characteristics of spacio-temporal distribution but also to assess the pollution degree and ecological risk using various pollution indices. Among metals, Zn had the highest values (1,311 mg/kg) and Hg showed the lowest value (0.261 mg/kg). The order of mean concentrations (mg/kg) of metals was Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Ni>Co>As>Cd>Hg in stream sediments around Shihwa Lake. Metal concentrations showed different pollution pattern with industrial region, indicating that these metals originated from different sources and industrial region had higher metal concentration than rural/urban regions. The results of geoaccumulation index (Igeo) showed that the stream sediments were significantly polluted with Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb, indicating moderately to highly polluted by these metals. According to PLI consideration, industrial region was more seriously polluted by metals whereas an rural/urban region was not polluted. About 85% of sampling site for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb from industrial regions were exceeded the PEL values. The mPELQ and SQI values derived from PEL of industrial region were classified as 'highly toxic' and 'very poor' and metal pollution level tend to be worse in wet season. This indicates that the industrial activities and stromwater runoff represents an important sources of heavy metals around Shihwa Lake.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.969-980
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• 2015

In order to certificate the distribution and pollution of heavy metal of surface sediments in Nakdong River were collected and analyzed for grain size, water content, ignition loss and heavy metal content. Surface sediments mainly composed of sand(avg. 94.6%) and water content and ignition loss were 20.46%, 1.53% on average. Grain size were relatively fine and organic matter content were relatively high in the Hoichun and Sunakdonggang. Most of heavy metal content(Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cu > Hg) in the Deokcheongang and Sunakdonggang were higher than the other streams. The Igeo were non polluted(less than 0) in all streams and the EF were relatively high in the small stream and PLI were non polluted(less than 1). In addition, organic matter, heavy metal content and pollution were highly correlation with grain size. Surface sediments in study area, heavy metal pollution of the Sunakdonggang were relatively high compared to the other stream but these results were not serious pollution that exceed the sediment pollution evaluation standard of river and lake in Korea and pollution levels adversely affected the majority of benthos were not.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.438-448
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• 2023

The concentrations of trace metals and organic matters in marine sediments collected from southeast Korean coastal areas were investigated. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the contamination status, spatial distribution and potential ecological risks associated with the physiochemical composition in the studied areas. We found that the concentrations of trace metals in marine sediments were as follows: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > As > Cd > Hg. According to the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) of Korea, concentrations of Zn, Cr, Cu and Cd at all sampling sites were below threshold effect levels (TEL). However, concentrations of As, Hg, and Pb (i.e., at the 94-98% of sampling sites), were below the TEL. In addition, concentration factors (CF) in the surveyed area were found to be associated with low ecological risks, whereas As, Hg, and Cu showed moderate to high risk levels in some inner parts of the studied bays. Finally, the pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI) of the elucidated metals were linked to moderate ecological risk, pointing to the possibility of being deleterious to some benthic organisms.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.453-464
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• 2013

Heavy metals in the mangrove sediments of Chuuk and Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia were analyzed to examine the pollution levels of heavy metals using enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index (PLI). The mean concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb in surface mangrove sediments were 642, 125, 46.9, 149, 15.6, 0.14 and 8.55 ${\mu}g$, respectively. Kosrae mangrove sediments showed the highest concentrations of Cr and Ni while Chuuk contains more of other metals such as Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb. Compared to those from other mangrove regions of the world, Cr, Ni and As levels in mangrove sediments from Micronesia were at higher levels whereas Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were at lower to median levels. In core sediment of Chuuk, metal concentrations in the upper part were higher than those in the lower part. Based on the EF and PLI values, As is evaluated as the heaviest contaminant in the surface sediment from Micronesia whilst other metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) are present at slightly lesser levels.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.542-554
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• 2015

Grain size, the content of ignition loss (IL), and the concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, As, and Hg) in surface sediments from the Taehwa River estuary, Ulsan, were measured to evaluate pollution levels and potential ecological risks of organic matter and trace metals in estuarine sediment. The mean grain size (Mz) of sediments in the study region ranged from $-0.8-7.7{\varphi}$ (mean $2.8{\pm}2.4{\varphi}$). Surface sediments in the upstream region of the Taehwa River were mainly composed of coarse sediments compared to the downstream region. The concentrations of IL, COD, AVS and trace metals in the sediment were much higher at downstream sites of Myeongchon Bridge in the vicinity of industrial complexes than at upstream sites of those in the vicinity of the residential areas due to the anthropogenic input of organic matter and trace metals by industrial activities. On the basis of several geochemical assessment techniques [sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$), pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI)], the surfaces sediments in the study region are not highly polluted for trace metals, except for As. However, the higher concentrations in downstream study regions of the Taehwa River could impact benthic organisms including shellfish (i.e. Manila clam) in sediments.