• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.141-158
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• 2019

The quantity of heavy metals in agricultural surface and subsurface soils around coal-fired power plants located in Samcheonpo and Hadong, Gyeongnam Province, were determined. The analytical results for 48 and 61 soils in Samcheonpo and Hadong, respectively, showed that the concentrations of Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were below the warning criteria regulated by Korean Soil Conservation Act; however, Cd in 38 and 13 soils in Samcheonpo and Hadong, respectively, exceeded the criterion. As a result of calculation of the geoaccumulation index and the enrichment factor, the soils were extremely contaminated with Cd and such high loading of Cd to the soils was due to anthropogenic source(s). Sequential extraction of the soils, however, showed that heavy metals including Cd existed as hardly extractable phases, which represented a low bioavailability of the heavy metals. Our results indicated that Cd contamination around the coal-fired power plants was due to artificial source(s) and may unlikely deteriorate nearby ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.220-225
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• 1994

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of treatment of fly ash on heavy metal contents in the grain. Rice was cultivated on the two types of paddy field, clay loam and sandy loam soil, with 0, 4, 8, 12t/10a of anthracite fly ash and bituminous coal fly ash, respectively. And soybean was cultivated on the same types of upland field with those of 0, 3, 6, 9t/10a, respectively. Also. rice and soybean were cultivated the same types of paddy and upland field with those ashes of 0, 12ton/10a and 0, 9ton/10a, yearly for three years. At the harvest time, the heavy metal contents in rice and soybean were Investigated. The results were summarized as follows : 1. Amount of application. 1) The contents of Cd in brown rice increased in the clay loam soil. Cr and Ni increased sandy loam soil with the application of anthracite fly ash. 2) The contents of Zn in rice increased in the sandy loam soil with the application of bituminous coal fly ash. 3) The contents of Cu in soybean increased with the application of anthracite and bituminous coal fly ash, but Zn, Pb, Cr and Ni increased only with the bituminous. 2. Successive application. 1) The contents of Cd in brown rice increased in the clay and sandy loam soil, however Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr and Fe increased only in sandy loam soil with the anthracite fly ash. 2) The contents of Cr in soybean were increased in the clay and sandy loam soil, but Cu, Fe increased only sandy loam soil with anthracite fly ash. 3) The contents of Cd, Zn, and Cr in brown rice increased in the clay and sandy loam soil, but those of Cu, Mn increased only in the sandy loam soil with application of bituminous. 4) The contents of Cd, Pb, and Cr in soybean increased in the sandy loam soil with the application of bituminous coal fly ash.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2005

Pharmaceutical byproduct sludge and cosmetic industry wastewater sludge can be used as a raw material of compost. Effects of three types of pharmaceutical byproduct sludge and one type of cosmetic industry wastewater sludge on soil properties and red pepper growth were investigated in a field based concrete pot ($2{\times}2m$). These sludges and pig manure ($5Mg\;ha^{-1}$, dry basis) were incorporated into the upper of loam soil 30 days prior to transplanting red pepper. Changes in soil properties and contents of heavy metals and toxic organic compounds in soil and plant were measured. And also plant growth measurement and bioassay of soil phytotoxicity were included. Contents of heavy metals were increased in the soils treated with the sludges. Plant growth in the sludge treatments were mostly inferior to that of NPK treatment, especially in early stage. Content of N in plant was lower in all sludge treatments at early and middle growth stages, and it was especially caused by characteristics and concentration of nitrogen and organic matter of sludges. Total yield of red pepper was highest in the NPK treatment and followed by pharmaceutical sludge 3, pig manure, pharmaceutical sludge 1, and pharmaceutical sludge 2, and the yield of cosmetic sludge treatment was considerably lower than others. HEM and PAHs contents in soil of cosmetic sludge treatment were $4.80mg\;kg^{-1}$ and $2,263.2{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Root elongation of lettuce exposed to the water extract of soil treated with cosmetic sludge was about 20% of that found in the test with soil extract of non fertilization treatment. At present, raw materials of compost were authorized according to the contents of organic matter, heavy metals and product processing. Toxic organic compounds analysis and bioassay would be helpful for authorization and assessment of suitability of raw materials of compost.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.53-63
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• 2003

Objectives of this research were to fractionate heavy metals in soil samples in the upper Okdong River basin and to assess the potential pollution index of each metal fraction. Soil samples were collected from the cultivated land soils and analyzed for physical and chemical properties. pH of cultivated soils ranged from 5.2 to 7.6. Contents of total kelhaldal nitrogen and loss on ignition were in the ranges of 0.6∼2.5%, and 1.9∼12.9%, respectively. Heavy metals in the cultivated land soils were higher in the abandoned closed coal mine near field soils than those in the paddy soils. Total concentrations of metals in the cultivated land soils were in the orders of Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd, exceed the corrective action level of the Soil Environment Conservation Law and higher than the naturals were abundance levels reported from uncontaminated cultivated land soils. Mobile fractions of metals were relatively small compared to the total concentrations. Soil Pollution Assesment Index (SPAI) values of each fraction of metals were leveled from Non polluted to Moderately polluted based on total concentrations. SPAI values of mobil fractions were lower than those of immobile fractions. Results on metal fractions and SPAI values of the cultivated land soils indicate that field soils samples were contaminated with heavy metals and had potential to cause a detrimental effects on plants. A prompt countermeasure to prevent field soils in the abandoned closed coal mine near fields are urgently needed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 2019

The present study was carried out to identify the distribution characteristics of heavy metals in ginseng and wood-cultivated ginseng reduction of dietary exposure. Samples of ginseng and wood-cultivated ginseng were collected from 14 and 5 regions across Korea, respectively. Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (Ar) were detected by ICP-MS after microwave digestion, whereas aluminum (Al) was determined using ICP. Cultivated ginseng peels were 16.2% of whole root, while the peels and fine roots amounted to 21.8% and 16.8% of whole wood-cultivated ginseng, respectively. Taking into account the weight and concentration of the heavy metals by root part, their distribution ratios were calculated and compared. The cultivated ginseng peels contained 40.3% Pb, 25.9% Cd, 47.6% As, and 89.9% Al. Meanwhile, heavy metals consisting of 27.2% Pb, 28.2% Cd, 48.3% As, and 56.8% Al were distributed in the peels of the wood-cultivated ginseng. There was no significant difference between the peels and fine roots of the wood-cultivated ginseng with respect to the distribution proportion of heavy metals, except for Al. These results indicate that the level of dietary exposure to heavy metals could be reduced by peeling ginseng and wood-cultivated ginseng prior to consumption.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.271-281
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• 2001

The characteristics of the heavy metal contamination in the soils affected by the tailings of the Palbong mine have been studied. The soils in the studied area consist mostly of loam by the particle size analysis, but a little of it, located near the stream, consist of loamy sand to sandy loam, finally to loam downward. The organic contents of soils are significantly low aoom 2 percent and the pH is in acidic ranging 6.0 $\pm$ 0.1. The samples of the parent rocks, the normal soils, the tailings and the channel deposits from the studied area were chemically analysed. From the result, the heavy metal concenlration of the soils is a little Jow compared with that of the parent rocks, shows the hydrologic process of the surface and the groundwater. The contamination of the tailings from the ore mining are high in lead, copper and arsenic. In the channel deposits the concenlrations of lead and copper are abnormally high but that of arsenic is uniquely low. And most of heavy metal contamination are decreased with the distance from the mine. It is caused by the properties of the surface and the ground water during the process of the heavy metal migration. The correlation-coefficient between sand and silt contents and the concentrations of Cd, Cu and Pb are significant but the amounts of As and Hg are increased with the clay contents. The dispersion of the heavy metals with the distance shows that the concentrations of them in the soils sampled at distance of 100 m to 200 m along the stream started near the Palbong mine are extremely high compared with those from other distances. These discrepancies are significant in Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg, but low in As. All the samples contain below detection limit of Cr+6 In the present stream water the concentrations of the heavy metals are not detected. So, it is interpreted that the concentrations in the soils are caused by the activities of the mining during the operation and have been continued by the dispersion from the tailings since after the closure of the mining, especially by the surface and ground water. The concentrations are diminished with the distance from the mining site, but in the interval of 800-2000 m increases abruptly. In the soil samples counted on the dispersion direction by wind, the lowering of the concentration is relatively uniform with the distance from the mining site. So, the rapid increase of the heavy metal concentrations is presumed to have been caused by the ground-water movement. In the migration of the heavy metals, the groundwater conditions, such as pH, Eh, the contents of colloidal particles, and Mn and Fe oxides are closely involveo. Integrating with these factors, it is interpreted that the groundwater conditions which have caused the heavy metal contamination of the studied area are those that the pH is about 3 in oxidized conditions, the contents of the colloidal particles are low, and Mn and Fe oxides are not involved in the migration of the heavy metals. Meanwhile, the vegetables growing on the soils in the studied area are not affected by the contamination of the heavy metals.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.253-260
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• 2008

Comparative study was performed on heavy metal contents among domestic herbal medicines and imported one. The heavy metal contents in 89 samples of 65 types of herbal medicines were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and mercury analyzer. The mean values of heavy metal contents (mg/kg) for herbal medicines were as follows: Hg, 0.010 (domestic: 0.010, imported: 0.010); Pb, 0.380 (domestic: 0.311, imported: 0.449); Cd, 0.080 (domestic: 0.101, imported: 0.059); As, 2.085 (domestic: 1.845, imported: 2.324); Mn, 31.564 (domestic: 33.844, imported: 29.283); Zn, 15.436 (domestic: 18.703, imported: 12.168); Cu, 3.406 (domestic: 3.374, imported: 3.437); Fe, 134.944 (domestic: 108.327, imported: 161.561). The measured values of Hg, Pb and Cd of domestic and imported herbal medicines showed lower levels than the recommended levels of those in herbal medicines by WHO/PHARM (Pb : not more than 5 mg/kg, Cd : not more than 0.3 mg/kg). This results will he used as a basic data for the future legislation on the regulation and control of heavy metal contents of herbal medicines.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.380-391
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• 2003

Surface sediments were collected from Gwangyang and Yeosu Bays to evaluate their sedimentological characteristics and geochemical aspects of both the benthic environment and heavy metal pollution. The grain size distribution includes both sandy and muddy sediments. Sand-rich sediments occur mainly near the POSCO and the channel between Namhedo and Yeosu Bando, while elsewhere mud-dominated sediments are present. TOC content ranges from 0.2 to 2.1 % and C/N ratios indicate that the range arises from the mix of organic matter. The C/S ratios of this organic matter show that parts of the study area are anoxic or have sub-anoxic bottom conditions. The hydrogen sulfide content of the sediment has a range of 0.7 to 301 ppm, with a high content occurring inshore of Myodo Island, where it indicates a polluted environment. The enrichment factor (Ef) and index of accumulation rate (Igeo) of ten heavy metals (Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb, Li, Zn, V, Cr, Ba) show that parts of the study area contain from one to seven times more Pb and Ba, and from 0.8 to 3.5 times more of the other elements than the mean sediment value. The Igeo values of V and Cd show that different parts of the area can be classified as heavily polluted, heavily to moderately polluted, or more or less unpolluted. Those areas that have both high levels of enrichment and high accumulation rates of heavy metals contain predominantly fine sediments with a high organic matter and hydrogen sulfide content.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.268-277
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• 2013

This study investigates the effects of accumulated levels of heavy metals and nutrients of cultivated soybean plant tissues, after the continuous application of sewage sludge (SS) and industrial sludge (IS). SS and IS were applied to soybean plants at loading of 0, 11.25, 22.50, and 45.00 Mg/ha, and the contents of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn), proteins, and amino acids in the cultivated soybean plants were measured. The Cd content in the soybean was 0.02~0.05 mg/kg, which is within the safety level set in the standard, and that of Pb was 0.02~0.15 mg/kg, which is also within the safety level except for IS 45 Mg/ha. The soybean harvest quantity was higher in the treatment groups than the control group in the first year. However, in the second year, SS had lower harvest and IS had the same level or a decreasing tendency, compared with the control group. In the first year, the content of amino acid which followed handling of SS was increased in the sludge groups more than in the control group in the case of glutamate. However, the influence of continuous application was increased in the sludge groups in the case of amino acids of 12 types. In conclusions, the accumulation in soybean of heavy metals by sludge treatment is not a problem, but the decreased yields needs to be considered. In addition, the most appropriate level of sludge treatment was 11.25 Mg/ha.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.635-649
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• 2003

Heavy metal concentrations and benthic foraminiferal distributions were investigated in three short sediment cores in order to understand the pollution history in Masan Bay. Sedimentation rates were 0.33 cm/yr, 0.20 cm/yr and 0.33 cm/yr in the inner bay, the out fall of Dugdong sewage disposal plant, and bay mouth, respectively. The rapid increases of copper, zinc and lead concentrations at the core depth of 10 cm the upper part indicated that Masan Bay has been polluted with industrial wastes since the 1940s. Benthic foraminifera in core sediments show that the variations in their distribution were followed by industrial pollution in the bay. The number of individuals and species diversity decreased, whereas agglutinated tests increased upward in the cores with increased heavy metal pollution. These shifts effectd the abundance of few tolerant forms and consequently decreased the species diversity. The opportunistic species Eggerella advena and Trochammina pacifica increased in polluted sediments. These species can be used as an indicator for assessments of environmental quality in Masan Bay.