본 연구에서는 우리나라 해양퇴적물의 배경농도 연구를 위한 예비조사로 전국 해안가에서 토양 123개 정점 내 중금속 농도 분석을 실시하였다. 분석된 원소의 평균 농도는 TOC 0.41%, Mg 0.61%, Al 8.39%, Ti 0.44%, Fe 3.64%, Li 36.7 ppm, Be 2.38 ppm, V 94.7 ppm, Cr 56.9 ppm, Mn 711 ppm, Co 14.7 ppm, Ni 24.8 ppm, Cu 24.7 ppm, Zn 89.1 ppm, As 11.6 ppm, Sr 114 ppm, Cd 0.20 ppm, Sn 2.54 ppm, Sb 1.13 ppm, Tl 0.75 ppm, Pb 30.5 ppm, Hg 0.023 ppm이었다. 시료 채취 지역에 따라 큰 농도차이를 보였으며, 연안지역 토양 내 중금속 농도는 산업단지 인근 지역에서 상대적으로 높은 농도를 보였다. 또한 Be, Co, Ni, Cu, Sr, Sn 및 Tl은 서해연안에서 상대적으로 높았으며, As과 Cr은 동해연안에서 상대적으로 높은 농도를 보였다.
Soil samples have been collected from 123 sites in order to monitor the concentration of heavy metals in soils from the coastal region of Korea by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Average concentrations of metals in this study are 0.41% for TOC, 0.61% for Mg, 8.39% for Al, 0.44% for Ti, 3.64% for Fe, 36.7 ppm for Li, 2.38 ppm for Be, 94.7 ppm for B, 56.9 ppm for Cr, 711 ppm for Mn, 14.7 ppm for Co, 24.8 ppm for Ni, 24.7 ppm for Cu, 89.1 ppm for Zn, 11.6 ppm for As, 114 ppm for Sr, 0.20 ppm for Cd, 2.54 ppm for Sn, 1.13 ppm for Sb, 0.75 ppm for Tl, 30.5 ppm for Pb and 0.023 ppm for respectively. Metal concentrations in soils were characterized by highly variable value and were observed relatively higher values nearby Industrial Complexes. Be, Co, Ni, Cu, Sr, Sn and Tl concentrations were observed in higher values for the western coast. However, As and Cr showed relatively higher value for the eastern coast.