Severe pollution of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in sediments from Lake Shihwa, Korea: Tracking the source

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2012-11, Vol.64 (11), p.2357-2363
• Main Authors: Moon, Hyo-Bang, Choi, Minkyu, Choi, Hee-Gu, Kannan, Kurunthachalam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benzofurans - analysis; Chlor-alkali; Coastal; Coastal sediment; Congeners; Contamination; Correlation; Dioxins - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Freshwater; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Lakes; Lakes - chemistry; Marine; PCBs; PCDDs; PCDFs; Pollution abatement; Pollution sources; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analogs & derivatives; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analysis; Republic of Korea; Sediments; Total organic carbon; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollution, Chemical - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.08.018

► Severe pollution of PCDD/Fs was recorded in sediments from Lake Shihwa, Korea. ► Surrounding creeks were major pathways of dioxin-like contaminants in the lake. ► Significant correlations were found for TOC content and highly chlorinated PCDD/F congeners. ► This is the first report to document chlor-alkali processes as a significant source of PCDD/Fs in Korea. Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were determined in surface sediments from Lake Shihwa and from creeks that discharge into this artificial lake. The toxic equivalents (TEQs) in sediments ranged from 1.0 to 1770pg/g dry weight, which were some of the highest values ever reported so far for coastal sediments on a global basis. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs decreased with increasing distance from the creeks to offshore regions of the lake. Based on a multivariate statistical analysis and congener profiles, it was found that high contamination by PCDD/Fs in creek sediments collected around Lake Shihwa was associated with releases from chlor-alkali processes. Significant correlations were found for total organic carbon content and the concentrations of highly chlorinated PCDD/F congeners. This is the first report to document chlor-alkali processes as a significant source of PCDD/F contamination in Korean coastal waters.