Chul-Hwan Koh

Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from Kyeonggi Bay, Korea

Abstract Sixty-six sediment samples were collected from Kyeonggi Bay, Korea, in December 1995 and analysed for a suite of 2–6 ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Sediments were collected in the Han River estuary, Incheon Harbour, from nearshore locations adjacent to large industrial complexes south of Incheon, and along transects toward the open sea. Concentrations of PAHs (9.1–1400 ng g −1 dry wt with an average of 120 ng g −1 ) were positively correlated with organic carbon (OC) content and negatively correlated with mean sediment grain size. The highest PAH concentrations were in samples from inner Incheon Harbour basins; these levels decreased within a short distance from these heavily industrialised waterways. The sources of PAHs were determined to be primarily combustion in nature based on the distribution of alkylated homologs to parent compounds. Overall, sediment PAHs in Kyeonggi Bay were lower than those in the United States and Europe. The potential for biological effects due to PAHs alone is expected to be low based on comparisons of individual and ΣPAH concentrations with effects-based and equilibrium partitioning-based sediment quality guidelines/criteria.

Perfluorinated compounds in water, sediment, soil and biota from estuarine and coastal areas of Korea

Soil, sediment, water, and biota collected from the western coast of Korea were analyzed to determine occurrence and sources of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFCs were significantly concentrations of PFCs were measured in some water and biological samples, while concentrations of PFCs in soils and sediments were relatively low. The most widely detected compound was found to be perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), with a maximum concentration in water of 450 ng/L and in fish of 612 ng/g, dw. PFOS concentrations in water and biota were both less than those thought to cause toxicity. However, in both cases concentrations were within a factor of 10 of the toxicity threshold concentration. Concentrations of PFCs were significantly greater downstream than those upstream on the same river, suggesting point sources. Overall, the detection of PFCs at relatively great concentrations in various environmental matrixes from this region of Korea suggests that further studies characterizing PFCs and their potential risk to both humans and wildlife are needed.

Contamination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments from Kyeonggi Bay and Nearby Areas, Korea

To elucidate the characteristic distribution and contamination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments, 63 sediments and five benthic organisms from Kyeonggi Bay, Namyang Bay and Lake Shihwa, West coast of Korea, were analysed. Characterization of PCBs distribution in sediments was conducted by correlation between PCBs concentrations and environmental parameters, comparison of contamination level and composition of PCBs homologs between Kanechlor mixture (KC-mix) and sediments. The residues of PCBs in sediments were correlated with total organic carbon (TOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) contents, not with mud contents and grain size distributions. Elevated concentrations of T-PCBs were found in sediments from Incheon North Harbor (INH) in Kyeonggi Bay. T-PCBs concentrations were decreased with distance increase from inner site of INH. The residues of T-PCBs in sediments from Namyang Bay were either non-detectable or near to detection limit. The contamination by PCBs in sediments from Lake Shihwa was also low. The PCBs congener profiles in INH were similar to those of KC-mix, while those in less contaminated sites showed relatively high percentage of lower chlorinated biphenyls. Sites K18 (580 ng/g or 48 ug/g-OC dry wt) and K19 (330 ng/g or 38 ug/g-OC dry wt) within INH exceeded the sediment quality criteria (SQC) (16 micrograms/g-OC as a KC-mix) derived from equilibrium partitioning (EqP) approach.

Environmental characteristics and distribution of macrobenthos in a mudflat of the west coast of Korea (Yellow Sea)

Abstract The spatio-temporal changes of environmental factors and the distribution patterns of macrobenthos were investigated on an intertidal mudflat near Panweol on the west coast of Korea. Temperatures of the surface sediments and salinities of the intertitial water were highest in summer and lowest in winter, while water content of the sediment was lowest in summer and highest in winter. Hourly variations of sediment temperature, water content and interstitial salinity during the daytime depended largely upon both the timing of ebb tide and daylight intensity. Temperature, water content and interstitial salinity showed a marked variation with sediment depth. Temperatures decreased sharply from the surface to 10 or 15 cm depth, and below this depth they were nearly constant, except in summer. Water content and interstitial salinity underwent a rapid decline in this upper layer and began to rise from this depth. From the high tide mark toward the main tidal channel, water content increased but salinity decreased. The sand fraction increased with the decrease of clay content toward the main tidal channel. This tidal flat could be divided into two zones: the “upper intertidal zone” and the “lower intertidal zone”, based on the spatial differences of the water content, interstitial salinity and grain-size composition in the surface sediment. There were three distinct zones of macrobenthos. The upper intertidal zone was dominated by burrowing deposit feeders, such as Ilyoplax dentimerosa, Helice tridens sheni, Cleistostoma dilatatum and Perinereis vancaurica tetradentata. The middle intertidal zone was characterized by other burrowing deposit feeders, such as Ilyoplax pingi, Macrophthalmus japonicus and Periserrula leucophryna. And the lower intertidal zone was dominated by suspension feeders represented by Laonome tridentata and Potamocorbula amurensis. Each zone was named after these characteristic species. Although the species composition of the upper intertidal community was different from that of the middle intertidal, the way of living and the feeding behaviour of the species occurring in these two zones were very similar. But the lower intertidal zone showed a characteristic community structure differing not only in species composition but also in ways of living and feeding of the species. Some sets of environmental factors are considered to explain the zonation. Water content of the sediment and interstitial salinity will be the main factors causing the observed zonation.

Land Use in Korean Tidal Wetlands: Impacts and Management Strategies

The coastal landscapes in southwestern Korea include a diverse array of tidal wetlands and salt marshes. These coastal zones link the ecological functions of marine tidal wetlands and freshwater ecosystems with terrestrial ecosystems. They are rich in biological diversity and play important roles in sustaining ecological health and processing environmental pollutants. Korean tidal wetlands are particularly important as nurseries for economically important fishes and habitats for migratory birds. Diking, draining, tourism, and conversion to agricultural and urban uses have adversely affected Korean tidal wetlands. Recent large development projects have contributed to further losses. Environmental impact assessments conducted for projects affecting tidal wetlands and their surrounding landscapes should be customized for application to these special settings. Adequate environmental impact assessments will include classification of hydrogeomorphic units and consideration of their responses to biological and environmental stressors. As is true worldwide, Korean laws and regulations are changing to be more favorable to the conservation and protection of tidal wetlands. More public education needs to be done at the local level to build support for tidal wetland conservation. Some key public education points include the role of tidal wetlands in maintaining healthy fish populations and reducing impacts of nonpoint source pollution. There is also a need to develop procedures for integrating economic and environmental objectives within the overall context of sustainable management and land uses.

Assessment of metal pollution in Onsan Bay, Korea using Asian periwinkle Littorina brevicula as a biomonitor

Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in the marine gastropod, Littorina brevicula Philippi, were determined to assess the metal pollution in Onsan Bay, Korea. Samples of L. brevicula employed as a biomonitor and seawater were collected from 12 to 20 stations of Onsan Bay in November 1997, respectively. Dissolved metal concentrations in surface seawater were highest at the station near Onsan Non-ferrous Industrial Complex: 1.15 micrograms l-1 for Cd, 2.49 micrograms l-1 for Pb, 3.75 micrograms l-1 for Cu and 23.98 micrograms l-1 for Zn. These values were 1-2 orders higher than those shown at outer regions of the Bay. Metal concentrations in the soft body of periwinkles were highly variable at different sampling locations: 0.48-27.11 micrograms g-1 for Cd, 1.41-24.91 micrograms g-1 for Pb, 57-664 micrograms g-1 for Cu and 83-246 micrograms g-1 for Zn. The values from stations near the industrial complex were higher than those expected from relationships between body sizes and metal body burdens in periwinkles collected from the whole Korean coast. Spatial distribution of metal concentrations in the periwinkle and seawater indicated that Onsan industrial complex near the Bay is the input source of these metals. Especially, Cd and Pb concentrations in the periwinkle and seawater were distinctly decreased with distance from the Onsan industrial complex. Non-essential metals such as Cd and Pb in the periwinkle showed a strong correlation with dissolved metal concentrations in seawater. Conversely, essential Cu and Zn in the periwinkle were hardly explained by those in seawater, except at the most contaminated sites.

Chapter 2 Emission, Contamination and Exposure, Fate and Transport, and National Management Strategy of Persistent Organic Pollutants in South Korea

Abstract Public concern over persistent organic pollutants (POPs) re-emerged in the 1990s due to studies describing endocrine disrupting effects of some POPs. While monitoring data suggested that concentrations of contaminants were less in South Korea than in more industrialized countries, the public perception was that there were significant risks posed by POPs. This perception may have resulted from inaccurate and insufficient information about the status of POPs in South Korea. The South Korean government, as a signatory authority of the Stockholm Convention, is obliged to submit a national implementation plan to ban or minimize POPs emissions. To date, little has been known regarding the overall POPs status including inventories, usage patterns, sources, emission, fate, and distribution in South Korea. To assess the status of four emerging POPs as well as the 12 existing classical POPs in South Korea we have compiled and reviewed all the available literature published since the mid-1990s on POPs in South Korea. We present and discuss: (1) emission inventories of individual POPs; (2) concentrations of the various POPs in various compartments of the environment; (3) conducted ecosystem and human exposure assessments; (4) report a case study of fate and multi-media transport of POPs; and finally (5) propose an appropriate strategy to minimize the risks of POPs in South Korea. In brief, concentrations of POPs were found to be relatively small, compared to most other industrialized countries. In fact, concentrations of many of the classical POPs were less than the environmental quality criteria suggested by government agencies, except for a few ‘hot spots’. However, due to a lack of sufficient information, the status and trends of PCDDs/DFs, DDTs, PBDEs and PFAs could not be assessed. Additional information from monitoring studies would be needed for certain locations. For instance, the emission of dioxin-like compounds, expressed on a per area basis, was estimated to be one of the greatest in the world, even though the recent governmental efforts to reduce the emission have resulted in decreased releases of several classes of POPs. Concentrations of some perfluoroalkylated compounds (PFAs), in some freshwater locations were found to be some of the greatest in the world. Identification of hot spots followed by remediation (for classical POPs) and nationwide monitoring surveys (for emerging POPs) would be strongly needed.

Growth and size distribution of some large brown algae in Ohori, east coast of Korea

About fifty individuals of four dominant large brown algae were collected by random sampling at monthly intervals using SCUBA. Size frequencies of Sargassum confusum and S. horneri were concentrated mainly in the small size classes during the initial growth phase, but were more or less evenly distributed in most size classes during the fast growing phase. Undaria pinnatifida and Costaria costata showed the same tendency as Sargassum spp., that frequency distribution became even when the plants reached their maximum growth. The kelp species recorded their maximum lengths in March, whereas Sargassum spp. showed their peaks in early summer. The relationships between the length and weight in different growth phases appeared to be dependent on the phenology of each species.

Biogenic sedimentary structures on a Korean mud flat: Spring-neap variations

Abstract Biogenic sedimentary structures created by dominant benthic animals of a mud flat were investigated in a small embayment at Panweol on the west coast of Korea. Burrows were replicated using the resin casting method on a sufficiently large scale to evaluate their variations statistically. The size and shape of burrows and other traces varied with locations and tidal phases. Burrows of the upper-intertidal crabs Helice tridens sheni and Ilyoplax dentimerosa were T- or I-shaped, vertical and deep whereas those of the mid-intertidal crab Macrophthalmus japonicus were U-shaped, oblique and shallow. The upper-intertidal polychaete Perineris aibuhitensis, a subsurface feeder, had sinuous and highly-branched burrows while the mid-internal one Periserrula leucophryna, a surface feeder, had vertical burrows without subsurface branches. Variations of crab burrows with tidal phases were distinct: The burrows of both H. tridens sheni and M. japonicus were significantly deeper and wider during neap tides than during spring tides. Sediment mounds were common in the upper intertidal zone, while crawling and feeding traces such as trails, trackways and cheliped scrapings were more prominent in the mid-intertidal zone. These traces were also observed in the upper intertidal zone during spring tides when surface sediments became watery. The size of the sediment mounds varied, being largest during neap tides. These biogenic sedimentary structures observed at Panweol were distinctly different from those found near Inchon only 50 km away, probably due to differences in hydrology and sedimentology.

Size distribution, growth and production of Sargassum thunbergii in an intertidal zone of Padori, west coast of Korea

This paper considers an estimation of population parameters by mathematical equations on the basis of size distribution and biomass obtained from a field survey. Sargassum thunbergii, a dominant alga in t he surf zone of Korean coast, was investigated from June 1990 to August 1991. We divided the population into interval groups according to the time of recruitment. A separation of the population by age or size was impossible because of difficulties arising from continuous recruitment over the growing season. The basic idea for the solution is based on the assumption that the estimated values of the growth rate, number of births and deaths reflect real values, if the biomass and coefficient of variation obtained from the field investigation are coincident with those calculated by equations. The predicted behavior of the population is as follows: the proportion of numbers of recruits is large, but the contribution of recruits to biomass and production is insignificant, and the growth curve shows a sigmoid pattern.