Arsenic speciation in water, suspended particles, and coastal organisms from the Taehwa River Estuary of South Korea.
Water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and biota samples were collected from the Taehwa River Estuary to determine the distributions, partitioning, and bioaccumulation of arsenicals. Six forms of As were quantitated by the use of HPLC-ICP/MS. As was found mainly near urban and industrial areas, and inorganic As(V) was the predominant As form in both water and SPM. Particulate arsenicals were found at the greatest concentrations in coarse particles (>180μm), followed by medium (30-180μm) and fine (0.45-30μm) particles, in freshwater. Arsenical concentrations were similar across the three particle fractions in saltwater. Field-based distribution coefficient (Kd) values for As depended strongly on SPM, with a less robust dependence on salinity. Concentrations of As were greater in macroalgae than in marine animals, such as fishes, bivalves, crabs, shrimps, and gastropods. Overall, the results of the present study provide useful information on the behaviors and fate of arsenicals in an estuarine environment.
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
Seongjin
S
Hong
School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
Hye-Ok
HO
Kwon
School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
Sung-Deuk
SD
Choi
Institute of Environmental Safety and Protection, NeoEnBiz Co., Bucheon 14526, Republic of Korea.
Jung-Suk
JS
Lee
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jskocean@snu.ac.kr.
Jong Seong
JS
Khim
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D054712:Salinity; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D014507:Urbanization; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D001152:Arsenicals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic
Arsenic speciation; Distribution coefficient (K(d)); Estuary; SPM; Salinity; Size fractionation