• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 1976

A nondestructive, instrumental neutron activation analysis using a Ge(Li) detector is applied to investigate the present levels of mercury and other trace elements in some fresh-water fish. The results show large variations of mercury content which are indicative of important local sources and indicate the inter-dependence relations between two of some trace elements. Analytical results for mercury in antracites are also given with the concern for their combustion as one of major causes of the mercury pollution.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.67-85
• /
• 2000

Fifty seven soil samples were collected from the paddy soil filled with tailings in the vicinity of the Seosung Pb-Zn mine. Those samples were analyzed for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in order to investigate heavy metal pollution levels in the paddy soil. Analyses of the soil samples were carried out using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry(ICP-AES) . Paddy soils show pH range from 6.55 to 8.26. X-ray diffraction analyses of the paddy soil indicate that the soils consist predominantly ankerite, siderite, quartz, mica, and clay minerals with minor amounts of amphibole and chlorite. The mineral composition of the waste rocks consists of massive galena, sphalerite, and minor amounts of pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, calcite, siderite, Pb-sulfosalt, and marcasite. The paddy soils were significantly contaminated by heavy metals(average concentrations, As: 334.4 ppm, Cd: 37.6 ppm, Co: 15.7 ppm, Cu: 214.1 ppm, Pb: 4,612 ppm, and Zn: 4,468 ppm).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.461-470
• /
• 2001

The Shihung mine was restored in the early 90's after abandonment for 20 yews since 1973. Although disposed mine tailings were removed and the site was replaced by an incineration plant, still some residual mine tailings remain in the places including the old mine tailing ditposal area and the adjacent agricultural area. These residual mine tailings are prone to impose an adverse impact on the soil and groundwater and needs investigation for the potential contamination. Mine tailing samples were collected from the old tailing disposal area and the iii paddy. The porewater from the mine tailing were extracted and analysed to investigate chemical changes along the reaction path. Batch leaching tests were also carried out in the laboratory to find any supporting evidence found in the field analysis. Evidence of elemental leaching was confirmed both by the mine tailing and the porewater chemistry in them. The element concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn in the porewater exceed the standard for drinking water of Korean government and US EPA. Leaching of heavy metals from the mine tailing seem to be responsible for the contamination. In batch leaching test. heavy metals were either continuous1y released or declined rapidly. Combining the information with porewater variation with depths and the geochemical meodeling results, most of elements are controlled by dissolution and/or precipitation processes, with some solubility controlling solid phases (Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn). Batch leaching test conducted at fixed pH 4 showed much higher releases for the heavy metals up to 400 times (Zn) and this area is becoming more vulnerable to soil and groundwater pollution as precipitation pH shifts to acidic condition.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.52-59
• /
• 2013

The internal contamination screening method using gross beta measurement was performed for radioisotope workers. 24 h and spot urine samples from workers of medical isotope production facilities were collected and measured. Most of the results were similar with the background level of gross beta activity except for a specific worker. Gross beta activity was slightly increased in several hours after finishing work. And the environmental factor of production facilities causing internal contamination were estimated based on screening results. The additional detailed internal dose assessment must be followed after the screening for protection of workers. Moreover, a procedure was established to apply a simple internal contamination assessment for radiation workers.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.474-485
• /
• 2002

The object of this study is to investigate the contamination degree and the interpretation of sea water intrusion phenomena with hydrogeochemical and hydrogen-oxygen stable isotope of coastal aquifer in the Gogum area, Korea. The physical characteristics of groundwaters is the neutral pH condition and transitional Redox environments, and groundwater is affected by sea water & surface water. The chemical properties of groundwaters are showing an increase in contamination owing to the sea water intrusion, waste water from the surface and agricultural chemicals. In the case of chloride, 6 samples of the groundwater in the study area are in excess of the drinking water standard. The Piper diagram shows the contamination in GG-4 and 14 by sea water intrusion. GG-3, 7 and 13 dominate the Na-HCO$_{3}$ type water and regional (GG-14) is indicated to dominate the Na-Cl type water such as sea water. According to the Sl (saturation index), sea water is oversaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite, GG-3, 14 and 18 are approaching the saturation state. The hydrogen-oxygen stable isotope ratio of groundwaters originates in the meteoric water, and groundwaters of GG-1, 5 and 14 display high oxygen isotope value due to surface water trespass and sea water intrusion. The result of this study, GG-14 is contaminated by sea water intrusion, groundwaters expected GG-3, 7 and 13 is in progress to artificial pollution and sea water intrusion.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.346-360
• /
• 2003

In order to investigate the geochemical characteristics of surface sediments in streams of Gwangju City, sediment samples from the main stream of Yeongsan river, Hwangryong river, and Gwangjucheon in the city were collected and analyzed for grain size and metal and organic carbon contents. The sediment types of the streams widely vary from pebble to mud. The metal contents in the sediments from Yeongsan river and Hwangryong river are mainly dependent on the grain size of the sediments and the geology around the streams, while the sediments in Gwangiucheon are controlled by organic matter contents from the domestic sewage. The enrichment factor (Ef) and index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) representing the degree of metal contamination in the sediments are relatively low in the mainstream of Yeongsan river and Hwangryong river. However, those of Gwangjucheon show EF values of P=8.30, Cu=5.54, Zn=14.28 and Pb=7.41 and Igeo values of P=3.78, Cu=2.79, Zn=3.66 and Pb=1.59. The heavy metal contamination is especially significant near the area where the Seobangcheon and Donggyecheon branches of Gwanjucheon, join. Therefore, it is suggested that the metallic contaminations of these small streams are significantly influenced by the domestic sewage of the city.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.87-98
• /
• 2004

Tailings and contaminated soils from Cheongyang mine and Seobo mine have been analysed by ICP-AES from 5-step sequential extraction method of multielement determination on extraction solutions at each step. As and Co within tailings and contaminated soils from Cheongyang mine and Seobo mine are mainly in the residual phase. In case of Cd, Cu and Zn, the most dominant fraction for tailings of Cheongyang mine is the oxidizable phase, while tailings of Seobo mine is dominated by the residual phase. In contaminated soils from Seobo mine, the predominant fraction for Cd, Cu and Zn is the Fe-Mn oxide phase. The exchangeable fraction of Pb in tailings from Cheongyang mine and Seobo mine is relatively high compared with those of other metals; whereas Pb fraction in contaminated soils from Seobo mine is largely associated with the residual fraction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.141-144
• /
• 2003

청양 및 서보광산에서 채취한 광미 및 오염된 토양에 대한 산성비를 고려한 용출실험 결과, 아연, 카드뮴 및 망간 pH 6.2-5.8, 철 pH 5.2-3.2, 코발트 pH 4.4-3.2, 구리 pH 3.2-3.0, 납과비소 pH3.0-3.5의 용출조건에서 최초로 각 원소의 용출이 발생하였다. 반응용액의 최종 pH5.0-1.5사이에서 용출되는 중금속은 이온교환형태 및 탄산염광물형태와 수반된 것이 용해된 것이다. 반응용액의 최종 pH1.5이하에서 용출되는 중금속은 철과 밀접하게 수반된 것으로 해석되었다. 청양광산과 서보광산의 광미가 pH2.0이하로 유지되는 경우가 발생한다면, 청양광산은 비소(최대 6,006$\mu\textrm{g}$/g), 아연(최대 2,503$\mu\textrm{g}$/g) 및 납(최대 29,638$\mu\textrm{g}$/g), 서보광산은 납(최대 2,258$\mu\textrm{g}$/g)과 111소(최대 874$\mu\textrm{g}$/g)의 오염확산이 크게 우려되며, 이 결과는 광미에 대한 환경복원이 필요한 것을 지시한다. 서보광산의 오염된 토양은 pH3.0까지의 산성비와 반응하는 경우에는 중금속의 오염확산이 거의 우려되지 않으며, pH3.0이하의 강산 용액과 반응한다면 아연의 오염확산이 우려된다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.83 no.1
• /
• pp.6-11
• /
• 1994

Three different types of tissue taken from three game birds such as Ring-necked Pheasant, Rufous Turtle Dove, Mallard and a mammal, Korean Water Deer were analyzed for five heavy metals such as iron, zinc, copper, lead and cadmium. The main purpose of this study was to make clear the background levels of the metal concentrations in the tissues of these game species. The metal levels were generally low and could be considered as the background levels. But some markedly high levels of lead were recorded in the muscles of birds shot by the shotgun. The implications of these results were discussed with respect to the health of people.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 2003

Researches were carried out to investigate the characteristics and concentration of heavy metal elements of stream water through Dongmyoung abandoned metal mine and soil adjacent to the mine. The pH range of water was 5.9∼7.1 that implies the water environment was acidic to neutral. The contents and distribution aspects of heavy metals in water samples varied with geochemical characteristics of element, but the concentration of heavy metals has the tendency of increase closer to the mine in general. The results of soil analysis show that total heavy metal concentration of agricultural soil near mine was far lower than those of ore tailing and dumping site. Therefore, the effects of the abandoned mine on stream water and agricultural products were supposed to be insignificant, particularly because the portion of absorbed carbonates and reducible fractions among total heavy metal concentration was relatively lower than the other. Since, however total heavy metal concentrations of mining site were relatively higher than those of adjacent region, there is a possibility of heavy metal difussion when the chemical environment of the site changes due to migration of surface and underground water. It is suggested that the preventive measures for water and soil pollution by the heavy metals would be considered around the region.