With respect to the proposed marine and coastal
sediment quality guidelines for Thailand (PCD,
2006), only concentrations of Pb and Cu in the sediments
exceeded the effects range low (ERL), but
did not exceed the effects range median (ERM) of
the guidelines. The high Pb concentrations were
found at Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and Rayong
estuary, whereas high Cu was observed at several
stations in the estuaries in Chanthaburi Province
and Kung Kraben Bay (Figure 2). Only sediment
Ni exceeded the ERM of the guidelines which was
found at Trat estuary. There are no guideline values
for Fe and Mn. Although Hg is a pollutant of concern in Thailand, the concentrations found were
still within the guidelines. The highest Hg concentrations
(0.121 μg g-1) were observed at Chon Buri
Bay (zone A), followed by the concentrations of
0.117 and 0.116 μg g-1 found at Ao Udom (zone C)
and Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate (zone E), respectively.