• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.367-378
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• 2007

A sediment quality index (SQI) and a mean sediment quality guideline quotient (M-SQGQ) were applied for the assessment of sediment quality in Masan Bay, Korea where metals and organic pollutants are of concern. The SQI was calculated by two functions, 'scope' (the number of variables that do not meet guideline objective) and 'amplitude' (the magnitude by which variables exceed guideline objective), with six different sediment quality guideline values from Canada, USA and Australia/New Zealand. Categorization of sediment quality was on the basis of SQI scores. The SQI values were compared with six guideline values applied as well as with the M-SQGQs. The SQI values were severely influenced by a few variables of high exceedance in the degree of non-compliance. The SQI values were very dependent on both the numbers and values of guideline variables used in index caluculation. Nevertheless, the SQI could provide integrated and simplified information from a large number of chemical data set. It is required to further evaluate protocols and guideline applied for deriving SQI and to compare it with field based sediment toxicity test and ecosystem integrity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.34-38
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• 1999

This paper investigated remediation options for contaminated sediments with heavy metals. Twenty three sediment samples were taken from three different depths of 0.5m, 1.5m and 2.5m. The concentration of Heavy metals Cu, Pb, and Hg were measured. The concentration of copper far exceeded the Sediment Quality Guideline in U.S.A and Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines in Canada. Therefore, remediation of the sediments is requried to protect the benthos. Two remediation options were suggested : dredging of the organic sediments as deep as about 85cm followed by surface covers with clean soil, and in-situ stabilization of tile sediments using lime or cement followed by surface cover with clean soil.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.70-74
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• 2004

There is a need to have a dredging index for decision of contaminated sediments dredging. Some differences from nation to nation were found in sediment quality guideline being applied by several nations because of economic level, environmental nature, and multiple uses. Therefore, it is not reasonable to adapt one guideline to be applied to sediments dredging. In this study, we developed dredging index by combining four numerical sets of sediment quality judgement into a quadrodiagram for prudential decisions. This newly developed dredging index was applied to the data obtained from Masan Bay before and after the dredging process. The quadrodiagrams of DI give us a nice graphical comparison and numerical values to explain the relative dredging effect under the circumstances of continuous input loadings. When the guideline value of DI is determined for the judgement of dredging considering social and economic impacts on local community, the DI value will be a scientific and reasonable tool in deciding dredging area and dredging depth.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.639-649
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• 2017

Measurements of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were taken in surface sediments inside Seogwipo and Hallim Harbors of Jeju Island, Korea, to evaluate their distribution. These harbors typically have heavy ship traffic. The samples were collected three times (in June, October, and December, 2013). PCB concentrations in sediments from Seogwipo Harbor were higher than in those from Hallim Harbor, but both levels were very low, compared with those in other parts of the world. Sedimentary PCB levels had a strong correlation with organic carbon and fine granule mud content. PCB concentration values in the examined surface sediments were much lower than Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) such as ER-L (Effect Rrange-Low), TEL (Threshold Effects Level) and ISQG (Interim Sediment Quality Guideline)-low value applied in countries, such as USA, Canada, and Australia. This suggests that the PCBs did not have significant biological effects on benthic organisms in the marine environment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.930-940
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• 2013

We evaluated contamination with organic matter and trace metals by analyzing grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, Hg, and As) in surface sediments at 28 stations around the Geum River estuary in July 2008. The surface sediments in the estuary were mainly composed of coarse sediment (sand and muddy sand), with mean grain size (Mz) ranging between $2-4{\O}$. The high concentrations of IL, COD, and trace metals were mainly found at stations in front of the Gusan outer port and industrial complex, and near the Seocheon coast with relatively fine sediments. In addition, the concentrations of IL and all trace metals, except Pb and As, showed good positive correlations with Mz, indicating that the concentrations of organic matter and trace metals were mainly dependent on sediment grain size. The concentrations of COD, AVS, and trace metals in most sediments did not exceed the sediment quality guideline (SQGs). Although the sediments in the study region are not polluted with organic matter and trace metals, there are many point sources of pollutants, such as Gusan port and industrial complex, Janghang refinery, and a thermoelectric power plant around the Geum River estuary. Thus, the management of coastal environments through periodic monitoring of organic matter and trace metals is required in the future.

• 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.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of metal pollution in the sediment from rivers, lakes, and streams in active gold mining districts in Ghana. Two hundred and fifty surface sediment samples from 99 locations were collected and analyzed for concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Mn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Metal concentrations were then used to assess the human health risks to resident children and adults in central tendency exposure (CTE) and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) scenarios. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were almost twice the threshold values established by the Hong Kong Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQG). Hg, Cu, and Cr concentrations in sediment were 14, 20, and 26 times higher than the Canadian Freshwater Sediment Guidelines for these elements. Also, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cr, and Hg were 3, 11, 12, and 16 times more than the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) sediment guideline values. The results of the human health risk assessment indicate that for ingestion of sediment under the central tendency exposure (CTE) scenario, the cancer risks for child and adult residents from exposure to As were $4.18{\times}10^{-6}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-7}$, respectively. This suggests that up to 4 children out of one million equally exposed children would contract cancer if exposed continuously to As over 70 years (the assumed lifetime). The hazard index for child residents following exposure to Cr(VI) in the RME scenario was 4.2. This is greater than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) threshold of 1, indicating that adverse health effects to children from exposure to Cr(VI) are possible. This study demonstrates the urgent need to control industrial emissions and the severe heavy metal pollution in gold mining environments.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.15-20
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• 2010

The contamination loadings generated in Changwon City are coming into Masan Bay through the Bongam tidal flat except the loadings collected and transferred by sewer lines to the wastewater treatment plant. The recovery of waterbirds, shellfishes, and fishes has been quite well recognized in recent years after the first implementation of Masan Bay TPLM (Total Pollution Loads Management) in Korea. This tidal flat has been conserved by the cooperation of several stakeholders and utilized as an ecosystem field site for in situ education. A large industrial complex has been operated since 1970's, therefore increasing the level of pollutants in estuary and costal sediments, especially by heavy metals. Zinc, copper, and lesd contamination of sediment was revealed at higher level by Clean-up guideline (MOMAF) or heavily polluted level by SQC (USEPA). There was a significant difference between two sites at the 95% confidence level, which implies no homogeneity in the processes of transport and deposition even at 500 m of distance. The heavy metal concentrations in the Bongam sediments have been gradually decreased with comparing the data of 2006, and 2009.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2018

In order to analyze the effects of sediment on the occurrence of algal bloom on the Giheung Reservoir, the contamination levels of sediments were evaluated. The concentrations of various organic compounds (ignition loss), as well as the total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, As, Hg, Cd) were analyzed in the sediments taken at eighteen sites of the reservoir. The concentrations of ignition loss and total nitrogen tended to increase from upstream to downstream, and ranged from 4.38 to 12.93% and 2,153 to 4,723 mg/kg, respectively. Heavy metals were in the order of Zn>Cr>Co>Ni>Pb>As>Hg, and the contamination level of the heavy metals was not high as a whole. The concentrations of the total phosphorus were in the range of 765 ~ 3,238 mg/kg, which exceeded the contamination level of the "Sediment Quality Assessment Guideline of River and Lake Sediment (Rule No. 2015-687 of the National Institute of Environmental Research, Korea)" at two upstream sites, four downstream sites, and all downstream sites. These results indicated that the pollution level of the total phosphorus, which is the main factor related to algal bloom, was found to be serious. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a countermeasure for sediment management in order to control the algal bloom which occurs periodically in the reservoir.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.6 no.3_4
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• pp.155-161
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• 1991

The water quality in Wonju stream, Seom river in Kangwon province and Bokha, Shindun stream in Kyeonggi province was investigated between the season of irrigation on July, 1990 and of non-irrigation on September in 1989. The results of water quality obtained from this study were as follows; As for water quality of the Wonju stream and the Seom river, the concentration of COD, T-N, SS and Cu, and for the Bokha, Shindun stream, the concentration of T-N, SS and Cu were exceeded standard levels of quality guideline of agricultural water use in the season of irrigation. However, in the water quality of Wonju and Bokha stream, the concentration of T-N , SS and Cu, and in the Seom river, the concentration of T-N, SS, Cu and Zn were exceeded standard levels of agricultural water quality in the season of non-irrigation. And the average water quality of the 4 streams were not suitable for agricultural water use. The comparison of the annual average water quality of the 4 streams for pH, DO, T-N and SS were in statistics significantly different with p values less than 0.01. When the average water quality between the season of irrigation and non-irrigation in each stream was compared, DO and COD in the Wonju stream, COD in the Seom river, pH, DO, T-N, SS and Cu in the Shindun stream showed a significant difference with p<0.01. The average in the sediment were; COD, 5.65∼26.53 ppm; Cu, 0.26∼0.49 ppm and Zn 0.95∼2.97 ppm. The concentration of three contaminants were markedly higher than the water quality. And the concentration of COD, Zn in the sediment showed a significant difference with p<0.01, and Cu showed a considerably significant difference with p<0.05.