Distribution of Organic Matter and Trace Metals in Surface Sediments and Ecological Risk Assessment in the Tongyeong Coast

Abstract

We investigated the distribution of organic matter and trace metals in surface sediment from Tonyeong coast. To determine the status of trace metal pollution, we also conducted an ecological risk assessment. Relatively high concentration of TN (total nitrogen), TOC (total organic carbon), and AVS (acid volatile sulfide) was found in surface sediment located in the narrow channel (site 35-38). Spatial distribution of Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Hg, and Zn in surface sediment was similar and high Cu concentrations were found in narrow channel. The assessment of heavy metal pollution was derived using the Enrichment factors (EF). The enrichment factor indicated that Cd was no enrichment (EF<1), Pb, Cr, Ni, Co, Zn, and Hg were minor enrichment (1<EF<3). Cu was minor-moderate enrichment (1<EF<7) in all site, respectively. According to the potential ecological risk index, a few site between Mireuk Island and Obi Island is facing moderately potential ecological risk.

De novo transcriptome assembly of brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis based on short-term cadmium and benzo[a]pyrene exposure experiments

“…Metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which constitute a large portion of marine pollutants, are found worldwide in aquatic ecosystems due to their direct or indirect releases from sewage, industrial wastewater, oil spill, and mining [ 1 , 2 ]. The pollutants have been detected in the coastal regions of South Korea [ 3 , 4 ]. They have been causing increasing concerns to aquatic environment due to difficulty in biodegradation and potentials of bioaccumulation and biomagnification to higher trophic levels via food web [ 5 ].…”