본 연구에서는 적도태평양 팔라우 환경 내 해수, 퇴적물, 토양 및 잘피에서 채취한 시료의 중금속 농도 및 분포특성에 대하여 조사하였다. 해수 중의 용존중금속의 평균농도는 Co 0.014 μg/L, Ni 0.141 μg/L, Cu 0.076 μg/L, Zn 0.159 μg/L, Cd 0.002 μg/L, Pb 0.006 μg/L으로 Zn>Ni>Cu>Co>Pb>Cd의 순이었다. 팔라우 해역 표층퇴적물 내 중금속의 평균농도 Cr 61.65 mg/kg, Co 2.83 mg/kg, Ni 14.05 mg/kg, Cu 8.04 mg/kg, Zn 11.04 mg/kg, As 12.81 mg/kg, Cd 0.018 mg/kg, Pb 1.01 mg/kg, Hg 0.015 mg/kg으로 Cr이 가장 높은 농도를 보였으며 Hg이 가장 낮은 평균농도를 보이고 있었다. 잘피 잎에서 중금속의 평균농도는 Cr 4.05 mg/kg, Co 1.33 mg/kg, Ni 2.62 mg/kg, Cu 2.95 mg/kg, Zn 17.61 mg/kg, As 4.97 mg/kg, Cd 0.050 mg/kg, Pb 0.49 mg/kg, Hg 0.009 mg/kg으로 Zn의 평균농도가 가장 높았으며 As>Cr>Cu>Ni>Co>Pb>Cd>Hg의 순으로 나타났다. 잘피 뿌리내 중금속의 평균농도는 Cr 3.82 mg/kg, Co 0.68 mg/kg, Ni 1.42 mg/kg, Cu 1.11 mg/kg, Zn 8.07 mg/kg, As 14.92 mg/kg, Cd 0.015 mg/kg, Pb 0.52 mg/kg, Hg 0.007 mg/kg로 As과 Pb는 잎에 비해 뿌리에서의 농도가 상대적으로 높은 결과를 보이고 있었다.
Heavy metal concentrations in marine environments including seawater, surface sediments and seagrasses from Palau were investigated to study the characteristics of heavy metal levels and to assess the present status of metals in Palau environments. The average concentrations of dissolved metals in surface seawater were 0.014 μg/L for Co, 0.141 μg/L for Ni, 0.076μg/L for Cu, 0.159 μg/L for Zn, 0.002 μg/L for Cd and 0.006 μg/L for Pb, respectively, showing the following order: Zn>Ni>Cu>Co>Pb>Cd. The average concentration of metals in the surface sediments were 61.65 mg/kg for Cr, 2.83 mg/kg for Co, 14.05 mg/kg for Ni, 8.04 mg/kg for Cu, 11.04 mg/kg for Zn, 12.81 mg/kg for As, 0.018 mg/kg for Cd, 1.01 mg/kg for Pb and 0.015 mg/kg for Hg, respectively. Among heavy metals in the present study, Cr had the highest value while Hg showed the lowest concentration. Mean metal concentrations in leaf of seagrass was the following order: Zn>As>Cr>Cu>Ni>Co>Pb>Hg. As and Pb concentrations in roots of seagrass were higher that those in leaf of seagrass.