Sources and Distributions of Organic Wastewater Compounds on the Mokpo Coast of Korea

Abstract

Surface water and sediment samples collected from the Mokpo coast of Korea were analyzed for molecular markers of organic municipal wastewaters, i.e., 11 fecal sterols including coprostanol (Cop) and nonylphenolic compounds (NPs), to characterize the main routes of these wastewaters to the coast and to assess contamination levels. Concentrations of Cop ranged from 94 to 7,568 ng/L in surface water and from 43 to 38,108 ng/g dry weight in sediments. Concentrations of NPs [nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylates (NP1-2EOs)] ranged from 123 to 4,729 ng/L in surface water and from 4 to 2,119 ng/ng dry weight in sediments. The levels of these compounds were much higher at stations near the rivers that pass through the urban center of Mokpo and the outfall of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The spatial distribution of Cop levels was statistically similar to that of NPs (r=0.809 and 0.982 in surface water and sediments, respectively), indicating that these compounds may have similar discharge points, transport, mixing, and deposition in the study area. These results suggest that considerable amounts of organic wastewater compounds are discharged through rivers and WWTP effluent to the Mokpo coast.