Abstract
In the Chinhae Bay, Korea, sedimentation rates and sedimentary record of anthropogenic metal loads were determined by $^{210}Pb$ dating and heavy metal analysis of four sediment cores . The sedimentation rates varied from 0.16g/$cm^2$/yr(3.1mm/yr) at Sta. Ct, located within narrow waterway to 0.24g/$cm^2$/yr(4.8mm/yr) at Sta. Cl, located in Haengam Bay. Maximum contents of Mn, Zn, Cu and Cr were observed at Sta. C2 located near the mouth of Masan Bay, while minimum contents were observed at Sta. CB. Mn/Fe ratios at Sta. C2 and Sta. C4 showed gradually increasing and decreasing downward, respectively, in the upper layer of sediment cores. This suggests that Mn may be diagenetically redistributed in highly reduced environment. At Sta. C2, the concentrations of Zn and Cu began to increase from 1920s by anthropogenic input and have been remarkablely increasing since mid 1960s. At Sta. C3, located near Sungpo, anthropogenic input of these two elements has also slightly increased after 1970s. However, pollution of these two elements was not significant in Haengam Bay(Sta. Cl) and Chiljun watenway(Sta. C4). The pollution of Co, Ni and Cr was not remarkable in all core samples except surface sediment of Sta. C2. The total input of anthropogenic Zn and Cu since 1920s was estimated to be 28~792 $\mu\textrm{g}$/cm2 and 0~168$\mu\textrm{g}$/cm2, respectively. Sta. C2 showed remarkablely higher values relative to other stations: anthropogenic loads of Zn and Cu constituted 27% and 29% of the total sedimentary inventories at the present day, respectively. Fe, Ni, Cr and Co contents showed good correlation(r>0.8) with each other. Anthropogenic Zn and Cu also showed a very good positive correlation(>0.9). However, correlation between these two group of element was quite scattered, indicating different sources and geochemical behaviors.
