Determination of five alternative antifouling agents in Korean marine sediments

The contamination of marine sediments by five antifouling agents was analysed to examine the changes in the coasts of Korea which were caused by the use of alternative antifouling agents. The average concentrations of chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, Irgarol 1051 and SEA-NINE(TM) 211 were 10.4, 0.2, 54.5 and 19.2 ng/g, respectively. TCMTB was below detection limits in all sampling sites. In terms of average concentrations, Irgarol 1051 and SEA-NINE(TM) 211 accounted for 87.4% of the total marine sediments contamination; these two substances have been used in Korea at higher rates than other antifouling agents. Irgarol 1051 and SEA-NINE(TM) 211 were also represented by the same factor in the factor analysis, possibly because they are used exclusively as antifouling agents and not as herbicides in Korea. Chlorothalonil and dichlofluanid, found as the second and third factor, respectively, were considered to be affected by not only antifoulants, but also other pollution sources such as pesticides. Thus, the management of Irgarol 1051 and SEA-NINE(TM) 211 and the management of chlorothalonil and dichlofluanid were separately conducted.