The effects of metal distribution and anthropogenic effluents on the benthic environment of Gwangyang Bay, Korea

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2006, Vol.52 (1), p.113-120
• Main Authors: Hyun, Sangmin, Lee, Taehee, Lee, Chang-Hoon, Park, Yu-Hyeon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon - analysis; Carbonates - analysis; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Hydrogen Sulfide - analysis; Korea; Marine; Metals - analysis; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Oceans and Seas; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Principal Component Analysis; Seawater; Soil and sediments pollution; Spectrophotometry, Atomic - methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.10.011

The effects of metal distribution and anthropogenic effluents on the benthic environment of Gwangyang Bay, Korea, were discussed. The metal concentrations of 109 surface sediments to evaluate the anthropogenic effluents affecting the sediments using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) at the Korea Basic Science Institute were also analyzed. The carbonate content of the surface sediments varied from 0.13% to 36%, with an average of 4.58%. The content of organic matter and carbonates in sediments were important controlling factors in the accumulation of trace metals in sediments. In evaluating benthic metal accumulation, the element should be normalized and then evaluated in comparison to a conservative element, such as Al or Ti. It was found that the metal concentrations showed wide spatial variation, which was associated with the organic carbon and hydrogen sulfide content of the sediment and the sedimentary facies.