Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in Marine Sediments from Mokpo Coastal Water of Korea

Abstract

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDFs) were determined in marine sediments from Mokpo coastal water of Korea. Total and toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations of PCDD/Fs ranged from 19.4 to 175 pg/g dry weight and ranged from 0.195 to 2.87 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight, respectively. These PCDD/F concentrations were below the safety sediment value (20 pg TEQ/g dry weight) of chronic toxicity. A highly significant correlation between the concentrations of PCDD/Fs and total organic carbon (TOC) in marine sediments was observed. Overall PCDD/F concentrations in the sediments were elevated in rivers and at inner locations close to harbors, indicating that these contaminants derived from local discharges of human activities. PCDD/F concentrations measured in our study were lower than those in several industrialized areas in Korea. Non-parametric multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordination showed that combustion processes from industrial complexes are the major source of PCDD/Fs in Mokpo coastal water.