title: Monitoring of organic contaminants in sediments from the Korean coast: Spatial distribution and temporal trends (2001-2007).
abstract: Spatial and temporal trends of organic contaminants in sediments along the Korean coast were estimated through a nationwide environmental monitoring program from 2001 to 2007. The concentrations of organic contaminants in sediments along the Korean coast were relatively low or moderate compared with foreign studies. The mean detection frequencies of organic contaminants during the seven years were highest for PAHs and PCDD/Fs, followed by PCBs, DDTs, TBT and HCHs in decreasing order. Based on published sediment quality guidelines, the ecological risks of persistent organic pollutants in sediments along the Korean coast were low, despite exceedances of the ERL at 2-6 sites for DDTs, and the TEL at 9-18 sites for PCDD/Fs. Nonparametric tests to assess temporal trends revealed significant decreasing trends for PCBs and PCDD/Fs at four and three sites, respectively (p<0.05). These results reflect the effects of regulations on the use of those contaminants.
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 612-902, Republic of Korea. hgchoi@nfrdi.go.kr
authors.forename: Hee Gu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyo Bang
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Minkyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls