Abstract
In order to examine the contamination levels of trace elements in stream sediments in the Chungnam coal mine area, stream sediment and water samples were collected and analyzed for trace elements. The pH of stream water was neutral or weak-alkaline and the mobility of metal in stream sediments was supposed to be low. From the result of cluster analysis, non-polluted sampling stations can be distinguished from polluted sampling stations influenced by mining activities. The trace element concentrations in sediments from non-polluted zone were considered to be the natural backround concentrations of this area. The trace element concentrations in sediment samples from the mining area were higher than those from non-polluted area, and contaminated area of enriched trace element levels need to be properly managed. From the results of discriminant and regression analyses, concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb AND zN and predicted values of Be, Mo, and Ni in Chungnam coal mine area were found to be lower than those in metal mining areas in Korea.