Assessment of metal pollution in Onsan Bay, Korea using Asian periwinkle Littorina brevicula as a biomonitor

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 Science B.V. All rights reserved.