Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture (한국환경농학회지)

The Korean Society of Environmental Agriculture (한국환경농학회)
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Determination of Cadmium and Zinc Contamination Source in Arable Soil in the Vicinity of a Zinc Smelting Factory

  • Hong, Chang-Oh (Division of Applied Life Science (BK21), Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Gutierrez, Jessie (Division of Applied Life Science (BK21), Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Lee, Seul-Bi (Division of Applied Life Science (BK21), Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Lee, Yong-Bok (National Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology, RDA) ;
  • Yu, Chan (Department of Agricultural Engineering, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Kim, Pil-Joo (Division of Applied Life Science (BK21), Gyeongsang National University)
  • Published : 2007.09.30
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Abstract

Agricultural area in the vicinity of the ${\triangle}{\triangle}$ smelting factory in Kyeongbuk province, the third largest zinc smelting factory in the world, was contaminated by high concentration of heavy metals. However, the heavy metals source was not yet directly traced and thus, resulted to a conflict between the factory and residents within its vicinity. In order to determine the level of heavy metal contamination in the arable lands located at the north eastern part of the factory, soils were sampled systematically. To find out the major reason for the occurrence of this problem, waters and aerosols were sampled with constant intervals to the upward and downward direction from the factory and were analyzed to find out the heavy metal concentrations. Cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) of the heavy metals were highly accumulated more than the Korean warning criteria (Cd 1.5, Zn 300 mg $kg^{-1}$) with mean values 1.7 and 407 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively, at the surface soils (0-20 cm), and heavy metal concentration significantly decreased with increasing soil depth In addition, the concentration of both metals slightly decreased with increasing distance from the factory to the surface soils. Cadmium and Zn were detected in the upward stream water with low concentration and concentrations increased significantly in the downstream after passing across the factory. Aerosol samples also showed traces of Cd and Zn which could be attributed to the contamination of the water system and the surface soils. Conclusively, Cd and Zn emitted from the ${\triangle}{\triangle}$ smelting factory moved with the aerosol in the atmosphere and thus, contaminated the agricultural areas and the water system within it vicinity.

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  2. Heavy Metal Contamination of Arable Soil and Corn Plant in the Vicinity of a Zinc Smelting Factory and Stabilization by Liming vol.56, pp.2, 2009, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9195-5