title: Monitoring of trace metals in coastal sediments around Korean Peninsula.
abstract: Spatial distributions and temporal variations of trace metals in Korean coastal sediments were investigated by determining seven metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in sediment collected from 71 stations between 2004 and 2010 (n=491). High metal concentrations were found in the southeastern coast, where there are many cities and industrial complexes, indicating that metal concentrations in Korean coastal sediment are significantly influenced by human activities associated with urbanization and industrialization. However, metal concentrations in sediment did not markedly vary temporally, which was because the coast is managed sustainably and because of the characteristics of the sediment environments. Based on the sediment quality guidelines and geoaccumulation index, Korean coastal sediments are practically unpolluted with Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn but moderately polluted with As. More intensive monitoring is required to determine the potential As sources and to understand the As geochemical cycles in Korean coastal sediments.
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan 46083, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dwhwang@korea.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Woon
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Monitoring Team, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Gil
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan 46083, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Minkyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan 46083, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In-Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Monitoring Team, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan 46083, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Gu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Geoaccumulation index; Korea; Sediment; Sediment quality guidelines; Trace metal