Tracing the Pollution Source Using Pb Isotopes in Sediments of the Coastal Region Surrounding the National Industrial Complex, Korea

166 sediment samples from Ulsan Bay and Shihwa Lake that is special management sea area were collected in 2014 not only to study the spatial distribution and pollution assessment of Pb but also to identify anthropogenic pollutions for Pb isotopes. The mean Pb concentrations of road-deposited sediments were higher than those of stream and coastal sediments in the study area. In all sediment samples, Ulsan showed an average concentration of 2 to 4 times higher than that of Shihwa. Pb concentrations in coastal sediments of more than 50 % were below the threshold effect level (TEL) of Korean marine sediment quality guidelines. The high exceedance of probable effect levels (PEL) showed in large harbors and near industrial facilities. Road-deposited sediments in Ulsan and Shihwa exceeded the class 2 (potentially toxic to benthic organisms) of Korean freshwater sediment quality guidelines. For both study areas, Pb isotope ratios tend to decrease with increasing Pb concentrations in sediments. In the case of Ulsan, high concentrations and low Pb-206/Pb-207 isotopic ratios were observed nearby the smelter and lead ore import harbor, indicating that Pb was released into the road surface during transportation using the vehicle and then moved to the marine area through the stream. However, Shihwa has a lot of small facilities (>19,000), it is difficult to clearly identify Pb pollution sources.