Characteristics and sources of potentially toxic elements in road-deposited sediments at the Port of Busan, South Korea: A key contributor to port sediments pollution

Jin Young Choi; Jae Seong Lee; Kyung-Tae Kim; Geun-Ha Park; Jun-Mo Jung; Gi Hoon Hong; Kongtae Ra; Sangmin Hyun; Chang Eon Lee; Eun-Ji Won

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117267

Characteristics and sources of potentially toxic elements in road-deposited sediments at the Port of Busan, South Korea: A key contributor to port sediments pollution

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Dec;209(Pt B):117267. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117267. Epub 2024 Nov 16.

Authors

Jin Young Choi¹, Jae Seong Lee², Kyung-Tae Kim³, Geun-Ha Park⁴, Jun-Mo Jung⁵, Gi Hoon Hong⁶, Kongtae Ra⁷, Sangmin Hyun⁸, Chang Eon Lee⁹, Eun-Ji Won¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea; Department of Convergence Study on the Ocean Science and Technology, Ocean Science and Technology School, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea; Department of Convergence Study on the Ocean Science and Technology, Ocean Science and Technology School, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
¹⁰ Department of Marine Science and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Gyeonggi-do 15588, Republic of Korea; Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Gyeonggi-do 15588, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39551023
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117267

Abstract

This study investigated the spatial distribution and chemical characteristics of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in road-deposited sediments (RDS) at the Port of Busan by size fraction. Enrichment factor (EF) values for Zn, Cd, and Sb in fine RDS <250 μm were 52-69, 49-78, and 46-44, respectively, indicating 'extremely high enrichment'. Various statistical analyses, including PCA and PMF models, revealed a strong correlation between pollution levels in RDS <250 μm and vehicle type, identifying non-exhaust emissions (NEE) of vehicles as a primary source of PTEs in RDS from the port. The risk index (RI) value of fine RDS ranged from 649 to 2238, indicating that the entire study area could be classified as having a 'significant ecological risk,' with higher values observed in heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) areas. The study underscores the need for effective NEE management to mitigate the environmental impact of ports on marine ecosystems.

Keywords: Geo-accumulation index (I(geo)); Grain size distribution; Non-exhaust emission (NEE); Port pollution; Positive matrix factorization model (PMF); Tire and road wear particles (TRWP).

MeSH terms

Environmental Monitoring*
Geologic Sediments* / chemistry
Metals, Heavy / analysis
Republic of Korea
Vehicle Emissions / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Vehicle Emissions
Metals, Heavy