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2026 Vol.31, Issue 2 Preview Page

Article

Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentration and Ecological Risk in Stream Sediment for Special Management Area

특별관리해역 하천 퇴적물 내 중금속 오염도 및 생태위해성 평가

JUNGYOON KIM12
,
KONGTAE RA34*
김 정윤12
,
나 공태34*
1UST Student, Marine Environmental Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & technology (KIOST), Busan 49111, Korea
2M.S Student, Department of Ocean Science (Oceanography), KIOST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea
3Principal Research Scientist, Marine Environmental Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & technology (KIOST), Busan 49111, Korea
4Professor, Department of Ocean Science (Oceanography), KIOST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea
1한국해양과학기술원 해양환경연구부 UST 학생연구원
2과학기술대학연합대학원대학교 한국해양과학기술원스쿨 해양과학(해양학) 대학원생
3한국해양과학기술원 해양환경연구부 책임연구원
4과학기술대학연합대학원대학교 한국해양과학기술원스쿨 해양과학(해양학) 교수
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2026. pp. 56-73
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Abstract

In this study, heavy metal concentrations, contamination levels, and ecological risks were evaluated in stream sediments within the terrestrial watersheds of five special management areas (Lake Shihwa-Incheon Coast, Gwangyang Bay, Masan Bay, Busan Coast, and Ulsan Coast). Fourteen heavy metal elements—V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Pb, and Hg—and conservative elements Li and Cs were analyzed. Shihwa showed the highest average concentration of Ba at 825.3 mg/kg, while Gwangyang, Masan, Busan, and Ulsan showed the highest average concentrations of Mn at 739.5 mg/kg, 893.2 mg/kg, 1023.5 mg/kg, and 585.4 mg/kg, respectively. Regarding enrichment factors (EF), Sb in Gwangyang, Cr, Ni, and Hg in Masan, and Cu, Cd, and Sb in Ulsan exhibited high concentrations attributed to industrial activities. Analysis of the Pollution Load Index (PLI) revealed that five regions recorded values ​​of 1 or higher, indicating widespread pollution; high pollution loads were confirmed at stations near major national industrial complexes and industrial areas, including Ulsan (U10), Masan (M14), Busan (B7), and Shihwa (S8). In the Ecological Risk Index (ERI) assessment, Hg (mercury) and Cd (cadmium), which have high toxicity coefficients, were analyzed as key elements determining the overall risk. In particular, the average Hg ERI in the Ulsan region was 3,723.1, exceeding the “very high” threshold of 320 by tens of times, while the ERI at the Ulsan U10 station recorded a value of over 50,000, indicating a critically detrimental state to the ecosystem.

Keywords
Heavy metal
Stream sediment
Special Management Areas (SMAs)
Concentration assessment index

본 연구에서는 5개 특별관리해역(시화호-인천연안, 광양만, 마산만, 부산연안, 울산연안) 육상 유역 내 하천 퇴적물을 대상으로 중금속 농도와 오염도 및 생태위해도를 평가하였다. V와 Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Pb, Hg 14개의 중금속 원소와 보존성 원소인 Li과 Cs을 분석하였고, 시화는 Ba의 평균 농도가 825.3 mg/kg, 광양과 마산, 부산, 울산은 Mn의 평균 농도가 739.5 mg/kg, 893.2 mg/kg, 1023.5 mg/kg, 585.4 mg/kg으로 가장 높았다. 농축계수(EF)는 광양의 Sb, 마산의 Cr과 Ni, Hg, 울산의 Cu과 Cd, Sb 등이 산업 활동에 기인한 고농축 양상을 보였다. 오염부하지수(PLI) 분석 결과, 5개 지역에서 1 이상의 수치를 기록하여 광범위한 오염 상태를 나타냈으며, 울산(U10), 마산(M14), 부산(B7), 시화(S8) 등 주요 국가산업단지 및 공업지역 인근 정점에서 높은 오염부하가 확인되었다. 생태위해도지수(ERI) 평가에서는 독성 계수가 높은 Hg(수은)와 Cd(카드뮴)이 전반적인 위해도를 결정짓는 핵심 원소로 분석되었다. 특히 울산 지역의 Hg 평균 Er은 3723.1로 매우 높은 위해도(Very high) 기준인 320을 수십 배 상회하였으며, 울산 U10 정점의 ERI는 50000 이상의 수치를 기록하여 생태계에 매우 치명적인 상태임을 나타내었다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Oceanography
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국해양학회
  • Journal Title :The Sea Journal of the Korean Society of Oceanography
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국해양학회지 바다
  • Volume : 31
  • No :2
  • Pages :56-73
  • Received Date : 2026-04-27
  • Revised Date : 2026-07-15
  • Accepted Date : 2026-07-27
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7850/jkso.2026.31.2.056
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