Sg. Kang et al., Assessment of metal pollution in Onsan Bay, Korea using Asian periwinkle Littorina brevicula as a biomonitor, SCI TOTAL E, 234(1-3), 1999, pp. 127-137
Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in the ma
rine gastropod, Littorina brevicula Philippi, were determined to assess the
metal pollution in Onsan Bay, Korea. Samples of L. brevicula employed as a
biomonitor and seawater were collected from 12 to 20 stations of Onsan Bay
in November 1997, respectively. Dissolved metal concentrations in surface
seawater were highest at the station near Onsan Non-ferrous Industrial Comp
lex: 1.15 mu g l(-1) for Cd, 2.49 mu g l(-1) for Ph, 3.75 mu g l(-1) for Cu
and 23.98 mu g l(-1) for Zn. These values were 1-2 orders higher than thos
e shown at outer regions of the Bay. Metal concentrations in the soft body
of periwinkles were highly variable at different sampling locations: 0.48-2
7.11 mu g g(-1) for Cd, 1.41-24.91 mu g(-1) for Pb, 57-664 mu g g(-1) for C
u and 83-246 mu g g(-1) for Zn. The values from stations near the industria
l complex were higher than those expected from relationships between body s
izes and metal body burdens in periwinkles collected from the whole Korean
coast. Spatial distribution of metal concentrations in the periwinkle and s
eawater indicated that Onsan industrial complex near the Bay is the input s
ource of these metals. Especially, Cd and Pb concentrations in the periwink
le and seawater were distinctly decreased with distance from the Onsan indu
strial complex. Non-essential metals such as Cd and Pb in the periwinkle sh
owed a strong correlation with dissolved metal concentrations in seawater.
Conversely, essential Cu and Zn in the periwinkle were hardly explained by
those in seawater, except at the most contaminated sites. (C) 1999 Elsevier
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