| Title |
Development of a Water - Quality Model for the Analysis of Heavy Metal Budgets in Estuarine Systems |
| Abstract |
Due to wastewaters from the industrial complex of Changwon City, the bottom sediments of inflowing streams adjacent to the upper Masan Bay have been contaminated for decades since the operation of manufacturers. Currently, the degree of contamination for heavy metals in stream sediments was rated at the Heavily Polluted Level (HPL) according to the Sediment Quality Guideline suggested by US EPA. In this study, we developed a mathematical model to quantify mass inputs of heavy metals into the bay. Development of the model is focused on cadmium since the substance among the toxicants is not ionized and its mechanism is relatively simple. The water column of the study area was divided into 10 segments, underlying two sediment layers to address the sediment-water interactions. Field data collected in surveys from 1993 to 1995 were used for model calibration and verification. Through the model runs, we found that bioturbation played an important role in stirring up the surface sediments and resulted in the decline of cadmium concentrations in interstitial waters. Finally, we evaluated cadmium loadings from inflowing streams and transports to the bay, and analysed cadmium budgets in the estuarine system. |