The State of Marine Pollution in the Waters adjacent to Shipyards in Korea -3. Evaluation of the Pollution of Heavy Metals in Offshore Surface Sediments around Major Shipyards in Summer 2010

Abstract

In order to evaluate the pollution of heavy metals in offshore surface sediments around shipyards in Korea, surface sediment samples were collected at eleven stations around four major shipyards located in the southeastern coast of Korea in summer 2010 and nine kinds of heavy metals such as copper(Cu), zinc(Zn), cadmium(Cd), lead(Pb), chrome(Cr), arsenic(As), mercury(Hg), iron(Fe) and aluminum(Al) in sediments were analyzed. The concentrations of Cu at all sampling stations were in the range of 47.10~414.96 ㎎/㎏ and exceeded TEL(Threshold Effects Level) 20.6㎎-Cu/㎏ of Korean marine environmental standards for offshore sediments and ERL(Effect Range-Low) 34.0㎎-Cu/㎏. The concentrations of Cu at seven stations around four shipyards were 65.18~414.96㎎/㎏ and exceeded PEL(Probable Effects Level) 64.4㎎-Cu/㎏ of Korean marine environmental standards for offshore sediments. The concentration of Cu at one station around B-shipyard was 414.96 ㎎/㎏ and exceeded ERM(Effect Range-Median) 270.0㎎-Cu/㎏. The concentrations of Zn at all stations were in the range of 135.09~388.79㎎/㎏ which exceeded ERL 150.0㎎-Zn/㎏. The concentrations of Zn at seven stations around four shipyards were 157.57~388.79㎎/㎏ and exceeded PEL 157.0㎎-Zn/㎏. The concentration of Zn at one station around B-shipyard was 388.79㎎/㎏ and was approaching ERM 410.0㎎-Zn/㎏. The concentrations of Cd at all stations were in the range of 0.11~0.54㎎/㎏ and were below TEL 0.75㎎-Cd/㎏ and ERL 1.2㎎-Cd/㎏. The concentrations of Pb at all stations were in the range of 18.04~105.62㎎/㎏ . The concentrations of Pb at two stations around B-shipyard were 73.87~105.62㎎/㎏ which exceeded TEL 44.0㎎-Pb/㎏ and ERL 46.7㎎-Pb/㎏, and were below PEL 119.0㎎-Pb/㎏ and ERM 218.0㎎-Pb/㎏. The concentrations of Cr at all stations were in the range of 51.26~85.39㎎/㎏ . The concentration of Cr at one station around B-shipyard was 85.39㎎/㎏ and exceeded ERL 81.0㎎-Cr/㎏. The concentrations of As at all stations were in the range of 8.70~22.15㎎/㎏ which exceeded ERL 8.2㎎-As/㎏ and were below ERM 70.0㎎-As/㎏. The concentrations of As at eight stations around A-shipyard, B-shipyard and D-shipyard were 14.93~22.15㎎/㎏ which exceeded TEL 14.5㎎-As/㎏ and were below PEL 75.5㎎-As/㎏. The concentrations of Hg at all stations were in the range of 0.02~0.35㎎/㎏. The concentrations of Hg at three stations around A-shipyard were 0.11~0.13㎎/㎏ which were almost equal to TEL 0.11㎎-Hg/㎏. Those at two stations around B-shipyard were 0.27~0.35㎎/㎏ which exceeded TEL 0.11㎎-Hg/㎏ and ERL 0.15㎎-Hg/㎏, and were below PEL 0.62㎎-Hg/㎏ and ERM 0.71㎎-Hg/㎏ . The concentrations of Fe and Al at all stations were in the range of 2.90~3.66 % and 3.12~6.80 %, respectively. These results imply that heavy metals such as copper, zinc, lead, arsenic and mercury were likely to be transferred to marine environment from shipyards, especially from B-shipyard.