Assessment of sediment contamination by persistent organic pollutants in Gyeonggi Bay, Korea

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants were determined in 33 surface sediments from Gyeonggi Bay, Korea. The concentrations (ng/g dry weight-range, mean in brackets) of PCBs, DDTs and HCHs in sediments were 0.16-41.9 (2.22), 0.03-5.17 (0.67) and 0.03-0.88 (0.29), respectively. Sum of 24 PAHs ranged from 6.37 to 648 ng/g (111 ng/g). Tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) were detected in 10, 3 and 31 out of 33 stations surveyed. TBT, DBT, and MBT were in the range of non detectable (n.d.)-122 ng Sn/ g, n.d.-84 ng Sn/g, and n.d.-41 ng Sn/g respectively. t-octylphenol, nonylphenol and bisphenol-A were in range of 0.1-15.4 ng/g, 3-1070 ng/g and 0.2-15.9 ng/g, respectively.These levels are lower than in other Korean bays. Station K8, located close to a wastewater reservoir showed the highest concentration. Molecular tracers such as nonylphenol, t-octylphenol, bisphenol-A, indicated that PCBs and PAHs entered the bay through sewage discharge, while butyltins, DDTs and HCHs entered either through atmospheric depositions or from shipping activities. According to international sediment quality guidelines, the noted concentrations may not impact benthic life.

Traditional and new POPs in environments along the Bohai and Yellow Seas: An overview of China and South Korea

“…Along the west coast of South Korea, HCHs and DDTs were widely distributed in sediments (Fig. 2) (Choi et al, 2010(Choi et al, , 2011a(Choi et al, , 2011b(Choi et al, , 2014Hong et al, 2006aHong et al, , 2009Khim et al, 1999;Koh et al, 2005;Lee et al, 2001b). Greater concentrations of HCHs were found in inland sediments of Lake Sihwa (0.55e10.7 ng g À1 dw) (Koh et al, 2005).…”

PCDD/F, PBDE, and nonylphenol contamination in a semi-enclosed bay (Masan Bay, South Korea) and a Mediterranean lagoon (Thau, France)

“…Three additional chemicals were studied as tracers of industrial and sewage pollution in addition to the above inferences. Nonylphenol, which is a raw material and biodegradation product of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEs) (Giger et al, 1984;Rice et al, 2003;Cheng et al, 2006), could reveal, along with other contaminants, industrial pollution sources (Hong et al, 2009).…”

“…Coprostanol is produced from the hydrogenation of cholesterol by bacteria in the human digestive system (Rosenfeld and Gallagher, 1964;Martin et al, 1973) and cholestanol is formed naturally in the environment by bacteria or the autochthonous production of phytosterols from high primary productivity; generally speaking, it is not of faecal origin (Martins et al, 2007). High levels of coprostanol have been found in human and mammalian faecal matter and domestic waste waters (Grimalt et al 1990;Jeng et al, 1996;Hong et al, 2009). A ratio of C coprostanol / (C cholestanol + C coprostanol ) [5b/(5a+5b)] was suggested (Grimalt et al 1990) to cross-validate the pollution source.…”

Human health risks associated with dietary exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in river water in Korea

“…Most studies in Korea focus on the presence of OCPs in marine sediment, coastal water and atmospheric samples (Fujii et al, 2012;Hong et al, 2006Hong et al, , 2009Moon et al, 2010;Park et al, 2011;Yeo et al, 2003Yeo et al, , 2004, whereas there is limited information on OCPs in freshwater environment and biota. Moreover, people inhabiting and traveling around inland watersheds keep consuming aquatic products from the regions.…”