본 연구는 광양만 퇴적물의 이화학적 조성과 중금속 함량을 알아보기 위해 함수율, COD, $H_{2}S$, 입도 및 10가지의 중금속을 17개 조사지점에 대해 분석${cdot}$조사하였다. 조사기간동안 나타난 결과로서 퇴적물의 함수율 변화는 35.5${sim}$53.8%를 나타내었다. COD와 $H_{2}S$는 각각 3.8${sim}$12.9 mg/g, 0.1${sim}$11.4 ${mu}g/g$를 나타내었다. 퇴적물 입도의 구성은 입경 $74{mu}m$ 이하가 40.5${sim}$86.7% 74${mu}m$ 이상이 11.5${sim}$43.0%로 나타났다. 등농도 분포도를 이용한 중금속의 공간분포로부터 광양만 퇴적물에 영향을 미치는 몇 곳의 배출원을 추정할 수 있었다. 중금속 배출원 중 여천공단 내의 신풍천, 쌍봉천 그리고 하수처리장의 방류수역이 주요 배출원으로 판정되었다. 중금속의 분석 결과를 US, EPA 비오염해역의 guideline에 비교할 때 납과 수은은 guideline에 모두 적합한 것으로 평가되었으나 망간, 아연, 구리, 철, 비소, 크롬 등은 guideline을 모두 상회하고 있었다.
For the purpose of surveying the physicochemical composition of sediment collected from Kwangyang Bay, the percentage of water loss, COD, $H_2S$, grain size and 10 heavy metals were studied at 17 sites. During the surveying period, the changes of the percentage of water loss were appeared $35.5;{sim};53.8%$. COD and $H_2S$ were showed $3.8l{sim};12.9;mg/g$, and $0.1;{sim}11.4;{mu}g/g$, respectively, In composition of grain size on the sediment, percentages of grain sizes under $74;{mu}m$ were varied from 40.5% to 86.7% and above $74;{mu}m$ were varied from 11.5% to 43.0%. From the spatial distribution of heavy metal using contour map, we can suppose some heavy metal discharges which affect sediment of Kwangyang Bay, It was estimated that Shinpung creek, Ssang-bong creek, and draining area of sewange treatment plant were the main discharge among the heavy metal output sources. By comparison between present study and heavy metal guideline of nonpolluted sea sediment that is provided by EPA, US, it was showed that the contents of Pb and Hg were acceptable but contents of Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, As, and Cr were higher than those of EPA guideline.
