Marine ecological risk posed by trace metals as hazardous and noxious substances discharged from marine industrial facilities in Korea

This study was conducted to assess the ecological risk posed by copper and zinc as hazardous and noxious substances (HNSs) discharged from marine industrial facilities into the surrounding marine environments in Korea. Toxicity tests were conducted using 10 native marine species found along the Korean coast. The results of these tests were used to derive hazardous concentrations for 5% of species and predicted no-effect concentrations. Heavy metal concentrations in the waters near Korean marine industrial facilities were measured, and an ecological risk assessment was performed by comparing the species sensitivity distribution with the environmental concentration distributions. The findings indicated that zinc posed a moderate risk. Expected ecological risk values for copper did not exceed the general ecological risk thresholds, but hazard quotients were high, suggesting the need for the improved management of copper discharge. The marine ecological risk assessment procedure and the results of this study are expected to provide essential information for the establishment of national policies for the management of the marine discharge of HNSs from industrial facilities in Korea.