Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from Kyeonggi Bay, Korea

Sixty-six sediment samples were collected from Kyeonggi Bay, Korea, in Dece mber 1995 and analysed for a suite of 2-6 ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocar bons (PAHs). Sediments were collected in the Han River estuary, Incheon Har bour, from nearshore locations adjacent to large industrial complexes south of Incheon, and along transects toward the open sea. Concentrations of PAH s (9.1-1400 ng g(-1) dry wt with an average of 120 ng g(-1)) were positivel y correlated with organic carbon (OC) content and negatively correlated wit h mean sediment grain size. The highest PAH concentrations were in samples from inner Incheon Harbour basins; these levels decreased within a short di stance from these heavily industrialised waterways. The sources of PAHs wer e determined to be primarily combustion in nature based on the distribution of alkylated homologs to parent compounds. Overall, sediment PAHs in Kyeon ggi Bay were lower than those in the United States and Europe. The potentia l For biological effects due to PAHs alone is expected to be low based on c omparisons of individual and Sigma PAH concentrations with effects-based an d equilibrium partitioning-based sediment quality guidelines/criteria. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.