| 초록 |
The concentrations of trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were determined in 49 surface sediment samples collected in Yeoja and Gangjin Bays on the south coast of Korea, which contain many shellfish farms, in order to assess the contamination level and to understand the spatial distribution of trace metals. The average metal concentrations in the surface sediments of both bays decreased in the order Fe #x3E; Mn #x3E; Zn #x3E; Cr #x3E; Pb #x3E; Cu #x3E; As #x3E; Cd #x3E; Hg. There were no differences in metal concentrations between shellfish farms and reference sites. The metal concentrations were significantly higher in Gangjin Bay than in Yeoja Bay. Notably, the Cu, Cd, and Hg concentrations were nearly twice as high in Gangjin Bay as in Yeoja Bay. A multivariate analysis showed a strong correlation among Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Cr in the sediments of both bays, implying that the metal concentrations in the sediments in the study area were mainly dependent on natural processes, such as crustal components and diagenesis. Based on the geoaccumulation index and marine sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the surface sediments in Yeoja and Gangjin Bays are not polluted by trace metals. |
