• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2007

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in marine sediments from Mokpo coastal water of Korea. Total and toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations of PCDD/Fs ranged from 19.4 to 175pg/g dry weight and ranged from 0.195 to 2.87 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight, respectively. These PCDD/F concentrations were below the safety sediment value (20 pg TEQ/g dry weight) of chronic toxicity. A highly significant correlation between the concentrations of PCDD/Fs and total organic carbon (TOC) in marine sediments was observed. Overall PCDD/F concentrations in the sediments were elevated in rivers and at inner locations close to harbors, indicating that these contaminants derived from local discharges of human activities. PCDD/F concentrations measured in our study were lower than those in several industrialized areas in Korea. Nonparametric multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordination showed that combustion processes from industrial complexes are the major source of PCDD/Fs in Mokpo coastal water.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.7 no.1_2 s.8
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• pp.35-40
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• 1999

Chemical and isotopic compositions of hydrocarbon gases were analyBed to characterize the properties of the shallow gases distributed in the southeastern part of the Ulleung Basin, offshore Korea. Sediments from the core were also analyzed to determine the characteristics and relationship to shallow gases. Hydrocarbon gases in the sediments consisted of methane (697.9-6054.4 ppm), ethane, propane, butane and hexane. The total carbon content of the sediments ranges from 1.84fe to $5.11{\%}$ and the total organic carbon content ranges from $0.29{\%} \;to\; 2.65{\%}$. High C/N ratio (>10) indicates that input of terrestrial organic matter was prevalent at the time of deposition. The methane content and stable isotopic data indicate that hydrocarbon gases from the sediments are identified to be thermogenic gas and mixture of both biogenic and thermal gases. Based on the Rock-Eval and carbon isotopic data, the level of thermal maturity of organic matter in the sediments $(Tmax<425^{\circ}C)$ is lower than that of gas. It suggests that thermal gases in the sediments migrated from the deeper sediments than the penetrated depth.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.759-771
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• 2011

We evaluated the pollution levels of organic matter and metallic element (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, As, and Hg) in the intertidal surface sediments of Aphae Island using several sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and assessment techniques for sediment pollution. Based on the textural composition of sediment, the surface sediments were classified into two main sedimentary facies: slightly gravelly mud and silt. The concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) in the sediments ranged from 4.6-9.9 (mean $7.4{\pm}1.1$) $mgO_2/g{\cdot}dry$ and from ND-0.53 (mean $0.04{\pm}0.10$) mgS/$g{\cdot}dry$, respectively. These values were considerably lower than those reported from a farming area in a semi-enclosed bay of Korea and for SQGs in Japan. The metallic element concentrations in the sediments varied widely with the mean grain size and organic matter content, implying that the concentrations of metallic elements are influenced mainly by secondary factors, such as bioturbation, the resuspension of sediment, and anthropogenic input. The overall results for the comparison with SQGs, enrichment factor (EF), and geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$) indicate that the surface sediments are slightly polluted by Cr and Ni, and moderately polluted by As. Our results suggest that the intertidal surface sediments of Aphae Island are not polluted by organic matter or metallic elements and the benthic conditions are suitable for healthy organisms.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.312-322
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• 1999

We have studied both submarine morphology and sediment characteristics of waste disposal sites in the southwestern Ulleung Basin, East Sea, as part of a marine environmental preservation program. The Jung waste disposal site in the outer shelf is characterized by the thick accumulation of coarse-grained palimpsest sediments and fine-grained sediments from various sources. The Byung waste disposal site in the continental slope is generally characterized by hemipelagic muds with intermittent sandy sediments originated from the outer shelf and upper slope. The hemipelagic sediments, draping the seafloor, consist of fluidized muds. The core sediments show numerous bioturbation structures which cause vertical mixing of sediments. The surface sediments can be divided into four sand types (S-1, S-2, S-3, and S-4) and two mud types (M-1 and M-2) based on relative contents of reworked coarse-grained palimpsest sediments and fine-grained sediments. sorting and heavy mineral contents. The sands are probably relict sediments reworked during high-energy conditions such as typoon or storm. On the other hand, the muds were originated from various sources such as recent input from the Nakdong River, reworked fine-grained sediment from the shelf or suspended particulate matter from the East Sea Warm Current.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.567-575
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• 2017

To understand the geochemical characteristics of Gomso Bay, which features extensive Manila clam, we measured various geochemical parameters, organic matter, and trace metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Hg, As and Fe) of intertidal and subtidal surface sediments in 2011. The surface sediments consisted of sedimentary facies including gravel (0.21%), sand (61.1%), silt (32.1%), and clay (6.5%). The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) values in most areas were below sediment quality criteria (COD, $20mg/g{\cdot}dry$; AVS, $0.2mg/g{\cdot}dry$). Trace metals in the surface sediments were below pollution thresholds, except for As (morderately polluted). Sediment quality was evaluated using the trace metal pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI), which showed that sediments were generally not polluted and at low risk; however, values along the outer bay were higher. We expect these results will be valuable for sustainable aquaculture prodution and environmental management in Gomso Bay.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.481-490
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• 2005

Surface sediments and seawater were sampled at Masan and Haengam Bays of Korea, to evaluate contamination by sewage-derived organic matter using fecal sterols, Six stream-water samples into Masan and Haengam Bays were also sampled. Total concentrations of eight sterols (coprostanol, epichloestanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol and $\beta-sitosterol$) were in the range of $1,274\~4,768{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in suspended particulate from the stream-water, $292\~2,244{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in suspended particulate from the seawater and $4.5\~27.2{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in the sediments. Although sterol compositions in sediments, seawater and stream-water were different, cholesterol was the predominant sterol in all samples. The proportion and concentration of coprostanol, a sewage tracer, in stream-water was much higher than those in sediment and seawater. The sterol levels including coprostanol in the sediments and seawater were higher at inner basin than at the outer bay. Some molecular indices and multivariate statistical analysis were used to assess the origin of these sterols and sewage contamination in the study area. The sterol composition patterns in stream-water were mainly associated with contamination by sewage-derived organic matters and those of seawater were associated with the activities of marine-originated organisms. Sterol levels in the sediments were both from the sewage input through stream-water and the marine- originated organisms. This survey suggests that the main source/route of sewage-derived organic matters in Masan Bay is the input of stream-water into the bay.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.27-33
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• 2007

Heavy metals in the surface seawaters and sediments were measured in Jinhae Bay. The high concentrations of heavy metals in the seawaters were found at the stations near the islands. In the sea waters, the mean concentrations of dissolved heavy metals except for Pb were not higher than previous data in this bay. Higher heavy metal contents in the surface sediments were observed at the stations adjacent to the Kojedo or Kadukdo of the Kadoksudo. The contents of Co, Ni, Zn, Cu, As and Cd in the surface sediments showed relatively high correlation coefficients with IL and COD. The order of enrichment factors(EFs) of heavy metals in the sediments was As>Cd>Pb>Zn>Co>Cu>Hg>Ni, and the EFs of As, Cd, Pb and Zn were higher than 1.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.128-137
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• 1997

This study presents results from a detailed sedimentological investigation of surface sediments obtained from the Korea Strait region, the southern part of the East Sea (Sea of Japan). The distribution of different types of bottom sediments is controlled by the recent fine-grained sediment transport and deposition combined with the lowerings of sea level during the last glacial period, forming a diverse mixture of organic-rich fine-grained and shelly coarse-grained sediments. In comparison to high organic concentration of fine-grained sediments in the inner continental shelf and slope areas, the shell-rich coarse-grained sediments on the outer shelf are discernible being further modified. These coarse-grained sediments are confirmed as relict resulting from the sediment dynamics during the lower sea levels of the last glacial period. Clay mineral distribution of the fine-grained sediments gives information about the transport mechanism. Presence of present-day current system (the Tsushima Warm Current) is most probable source for the fine-grained particles into the open East Sea from the East China Sea, indicating that Holocene sediment dynamics may be used to explain the observed distribution of surface coarse-grained shell-rich sediments.

• International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics Korean Journal of Geophysical Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 1998

Sediment samples from five stations at the Shihwa Lake sewage outfall, west cost of Korea, were collected to evaluate the effect of the outfall on benthic foraminifers. Heavy metal (Cu and Zn) polluted the eastern part of the Shihwa Lake, adjacent to the Shihwa-Banwol Industrial Complexes, shows barren or nearly barren of benthic foraminifers, and the lowest number of species both at the core top and downcore. Excepting for the barren zone, pyritized benthic foraminifers abundantly occur both at the surface and downcore sediments in the western part of the Shihwa Lake, suggesting that foraminiferal disease by anoxic bacteria. Recent intrusion of pollutants form the Shihwa-Banwol Industrial Complexes and adjacent six major streams severely polluted the Shihwa Lake as shown by the low abundance (number/10 g) of benthic foraminifers, low number of Ammonia beccarii, low species diversity, and absence of both Elphidium spp. and ostracodes at the surface sediments compared of both downcore. Except the barren zone, both pyritized and non-pyritized Ammonia beccarii occur dominantly in the surface sediments and downcore. Elphidium spp. (either pyritized or non-phyritized) do not occur in the surface sediments of whole stations. However, they occur from the entire downcore sediments except in the eastern part of Shihwa Lake. Arenaceous foraminifers do not inhabit in the heavily polluted areas as evidenced by the occurrence of relatively deep core depth (11-15 cm). Ostracodes occur at the downcore sediments, but they do not occur at the surface sediments. Ostracodes also do not occur at the heavily polluted areas in the eastern part of the Shihwa Lake both at the surface and downcore sediments, indicating that the abundance of ostracodes also can be used for a pollution indicator.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.331-336
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• 1990

Annual distribution of hiterotrophic marine bacteria and seasonal characteristics were investigated in the intertidal waters and sediments in the vicinity of Kunsan of Yellow Sea, Korea. Annual distribution of heterotrophic marine bacteria ranged from $ 7.5*10^{2}$ to $1.1*10^{5}$ c.f.u./ml in water and from $1.6*10 ^{4}$ to $4.8*10^{6}$ c.f.u.per g dry sediments. As for the morphological distribution measured by epifluorescence microscopy, rod-form bacteria were distributed more than 74% of total observed bacteria during surveying periods. Average biovolume of sampled bacteria ranged from $3.19\;+-\;0.59*10^{-2}$ to $6.19\;+-\;0.76*10^{-2}$ $\mu$$m^{3}$ for coccus-form bacteria. Isolated bacteria showed various utilization of carbon sources such as glucose, maltose, lactose, xylose and arabinose, and showed tolerance at various range of salinity. It was isolated 82 genus in seawater and 114 genus in sediments. Dominant genera were Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Flavobacterium and Acinetobacter in seawater, and Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Vibrio, and Mycobacterium in sediments.