A Study on the Pollution of Nonylphenol in Surface Sediment in Gwangyang Bay and Yeosu Sound
This study was carried out to survey the pollution of nonylphenol (NP) in surface sediments around Gwangyang bay and Yeosu sound. NP was suspected chemicals as endocrine disruption.
Gwangyang bay is located on the mid south coast of Korea. It is a semi-closed bay which Yeosu petrochemical industrial complex, POSCO (Pohang Steel Company) and Gwangyang container harbor are there.
The surface sediments were collected at 15 stations with gravity corer at October, 1999, February, May and August, 2000. Also, the stream and intertidal sediment were collected at 5 sites at August, 2000.
Concentrations of NP in surface sediments were in the range of 6.89 to 202.70 ng/g dry wt.. Seasonal range (mean value) of NP is 13.98 to 30.48 (23.46) ng/g dry wt. at October, 10.35 to 54.91 (28.10) ng/g dry wt. at February, 29.05 to 202.70 (82.32) ng/g dry wt. at May and 6.98 to 83.40 (25.37) ng/g dry wt. at August.
NP was seasonally fluctuated, and the highest mean value and range was detected at May, 2000. NP was highly distributed in the inner part of Gwangyang bay than Yeosu sound. Concentrations of NP in stream and intertidal sediments showed the highest value in downstream near Yeosu petrochemical industrial complex and Yondung stream. It suggests that the source of NP is industrial wastewater and municipal sewage.