Heavy Metal Contamination of Stream Sediments from the Yeongsan River and Kwangju Stream, Kwangju

In order to investigate the extent and degree of contamination in the Kwangju area, sediment samples from the Kwangju Stream and the upper stream of the Yeongsan River were analyzed for heavy metals, organic matter and grain size of sediments. The results show that a wide range of content was apparent for every heavy metal, and that a certain area was contaminated seriously. Representative pollutants such as Cu, Zn and Pb show high concentration in industrial complex and overpopulated areas, which reflects the effects of industrial waste water and sewage. Similar behavior among heavy metals suggests a possibility that less concentrated metals such as Mn, Cr and Ni may act as potential pollutant if contamination of stream sediments is maintained.