Abstract
To assess distribution of metal contamination and grain size in the sediments of Nakdong River (South Korea), surface sediments were collected from 21 sites and analyzed. Within the study area, sand was typically the dominant grain size. However, because of the reduced flow rate and flow velocity, sites adjacent to weirs were composed of relatively fine sediments. A comparison of sediment metal concentrations with sediment quality guidelines proposed by the USA, Canada, and South Korea revealed that sites adjacent to weirs had concentrations that exceeded the standard values. The enrichment factor, index of geo-accumulation, and pollution load index calculation results that the sites adjacent to weirs showed high contamination, with Cd accounting for the highest contamination levels. The metals in the study area varies due to the effect of fine sediments; therefore, high concentrations of metals accumulated adjacent to weirs where fine sediments were distributed in greater proportions. Furthermore, Cd exhibited the greatest contribution to metal contamination in the study area and the highest contamination levels were found at NS19 (adjacent to the Haman weir). Thus, the accumulation of fine sediment increased due to the influence of the weirs, thereby increasing the overall amount of metal contamination.
Highlights
A river is classified into a mainstream and tributaries, both of which are directly related to human activities
Unlike conventional studies that are performed within a limited spatial area, this study aims to investigate the complete sediment environment of the Nakdong River by determining the grain size distribution and metal contamination in the mainstream and tributaries of the Nakdong River system
In order to understand the contamination environment of surface sediments in the entire Nakdong River system, surface sediments were collected from 21 sites in the mainstream and tributaries of Nakdong River, South
Summary
A river is classified into a mainstream and tributaries, both of which are directly related to human activities. The natural purification capability of rivers has decreased and the river environment has gradually deteriorated due to increased residential and industrial sewage and wastewater linked to population growth, improved living standards, and industrial progress (Kim et al 2015a, b). River environments are largely affected by artificial structures, such as weirs, as well as cities and industrial complexes built adjacent to rivers (Ahn et al 2014). Contaminants flowing into a river are discharged to the environment through various paths. Contaminants flowing into the water system typically accumulate in sediments transported and deposited by the flow of water, waves, tidal currents, and wind. Contaminants deposited in rivers or lakes accumulate on the bottom and influence the river ecosystem. To obtain a complete understanding of the river environment, it is important to analyze the geochemical components (e.g., metals) that accumulate in the sediments as well as the
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