Pollution Intensity Assessment of Sediments Obtained Near Ieodo Ocean Research Station Using Pollution Index for Heavy Metals

Abstract

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the heavy metal contamination level by analyzing heavy metals in sediments near Ieodo ocean research station located in southwestern Jeju Island. Methods:Sixteen sediments samples were collected from Ieodo ocean research station, and two and three sediment samples were collected from the southwestern region and between Ieodo and Jeju Island. These samples were used for heavy metal content analysis according to the marine pollution process test method, and contamination level of sediments was calculated using the measured heavy metal concentration. Results and Discussion:All heavy metals except Ni were evaluated as non-contamination level, and Ni was found to have high pollution level. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency guideline, samples 6, 9, 15, and 22 were classified as severe contamination, and according to the geoaccumulation index, samples 15 and 22 were classified as slightly contaminated for Ni. When classified by the Enrichment factor value, Ni contamination was categorized as moderately severe enrichment for samples 15 and 22. Using the potential ecological risk factor value, the ecological risks of the heavy metals in all samples were classified as low risk. The mean PEL quotient value for all six heavy metals in samples was a maximum of 0.60, indicating a 21% probability of toxicity for heavy metals in all samples. Conclusions:It was confirmed that there was no contamination by Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn, but contamination by Ni was found to be a serious level. Compared with previous studies, the concentration of Ni in the Ieodo was found to be high, which may be due to the inflow of ocean research station or the Yangzu river runoff in China.

Keywords

• sediments
• heavy metals
• ieodo ocean research station
• pollution assessment
• ecological risk