title: Monitoring toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in intertidal sediments for five years after the Hebei Spirit oil spill in Taean, Republic of Korea.
abstract: Ecotoxicological monitoring of intertidal sediments was performed for 5 years after the Hebei Spirit oil spill in Taean, Korea. Sediment toxicity was observed on most of the beaches 4 months after the spill and later decreased rapidly to nontoxic levels 8 months after the spill. The concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (TPAHs) in the sediments ranged from 2 to 530,000 ng/g during the monitoring. More than half of the samples exhibited significant toxicity 5 years after the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Using a logistic regression model, the median lethal concentration of TPAHs to amphipod Monocorophium uenoi was estimated to be 36,000 ng/g. From the 63 chemistry and toxicity data, the effect range-low, effect range median, threshold effect level, and probable effect level were derived to be 3190, 54,100, 2480, and 29,000 ng/g, respectively. The relative compositions of the PAH groups indicated that the weathering process is still ongoing.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Protection and Safety, NeoEnBiz Co., Bucheon 420-806, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chlee@neoenbiz.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong-Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chan-Gyoung
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Seong-Dae
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Sin-Kil
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Un Hyuk
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Won Joon
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Sung Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Hebei Spirit; Oil spill; Oil weathering; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Sediment quality guidelines; Sediment toxicity