• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.319-323
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• 2000

This study was conducted to compare fractionations and availability of heavy metal in paddy soils near five abandoned mining areas. The sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate the heavy metals in soils into the designated from water $soluble(H_2O)$, $exchangeable(0.5M\;KNO_3)$, organically bound(0.5M NaOH), $oxide/carbonate(0.05M\;Na_2-EDTA)$, and $sulfide/residual(4M\;HNO_3)$. EDTA and $HNO_3$ extractable of Cd, Pb, and Zn, and NaOH and $HNO_3$, extractable of Cu were predominant chemical forms. The ratio of $H_2O+KNO_3$ extractable of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb were 25.1, 8.7, 4.0, and 0.4%, respectively. The ratio of $H_2O+KNO_3$ extractable heavy metal were negatively correlated with soil pH, while $EDTA+HNO_3$ extractable heavy metal were positively correlated. The most consistent distribution patterns were found when the soil samples were grouped according to their total contents. Specially, the ratio of $H_2O+KNO_3$ extractable heavy metal were higher as total contents of heavy metal were increased. The ratio of $H_2O+KNO_3$ extractable heavy metal(Cd 1.06, Cu 0.15, Pb 0.01, and Zn 0.05%) were lower at the high soil pH than those(Cd 31.31, Cu 4.06, Pb 1.75, and Zn 10.16%) at the low level. Compared to other chemical forms, the degree of contribution for $KNO_3$ extractable form to the Cd uptake to brown rice was high, whereas that for EDTA and $HNO_3$ extractable forms were high to the Zn.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.5 s.174
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• pp.535-545
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• 2005

Environmental survey from some abandoned metal mine areas was undertaken on to assess the risk of adverse health effects on human exposure to arsenic influenced by past Au-Ag mining activities. Elevated levels of As were found in tailings from the studied mine areas. This high concentration may have a impact on soils and waters around the tailing piles. In order to perform the human risk assessment, chemical analysis data of soils, rice grains and waters fur As have been used. The HQ values fer As via the rice grain and groundwater consumption were significantly higher compared with other exposure pathways in all metal mine areas. However, there were minimal soil and water dermal contact risks. The resulting Hl values of As from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas were higher than 5.0, and their toxic risk due to drinking water and rice grain was strong in these mine areas. The cancer risk of being exposed to As by the rice grain route from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas was $5.2\times10^{-4},\;6.0\times10^{-4}\;and\;8.1\times10^{-4}$, respectively. The As cancer risk via the exposure pathway of drinking water from these mine areas exceeded the acceptable risk of 1 in 10,000 fer regulatory purposes. Thus, the daily intakes of groundwater and rice grain by the local residents from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas can pose a potential health threat if exposed by long-term arsenic exposure.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2003

The objective of this study is to investigate the physical and chemical properties for environmental assessment of water system affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) from coal mining activities in the Youngwol, Jungseon and Pyungchang areas in Korea. During November 2000 to July 2002, 6 times of water samples were collected season-ally from acid mine drainage and nearby streams at 13 coal mines in the study area. The physical and chemical properties including pH, Eh, TDS, salinity, bicarbonates and DO were measured in the field. Eighteen cations includ-ing Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn, and 6 anions including nitrates and sulfates were also analyzed by ICP-AES and If, respectively. Acid water from the Jungam coal mine has typical characteristics of AMD with very low pH(3∼4) and high TDS(1,000∼5,000 mg/1). Relatively high concentrations(mg/kg) of heavy meals, especially for Al(380), Fe(80), Mn(44) and Zn(8), were found in water samples from the Jungam coal mine area. Water samples from the Seojin, Sebang and Sungjin coal mines also contained over 50 mg/l of Al, >100 mg/1 of Fe and )10 mg/1 of Mn. In addition to anioins, over 1,000 mg/l of sulfate was found in several water samples. Seasonally, the concentrations of metals and sulfates varied; wet season samples were relatively higher in metals and sulfates than dry season samples. It is needed to establish the proper remediation and environmental monitoring of the AMD continuously.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.314-318
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• 2000

To compare heavy metal phytoavailability in paddy soils near five abandoned mining areas, 4 different soil extractants such as 0.1M-HCl, $0.1M-HNO_3$, 0.05M-EDTA, and 0.005M-DTPA were used. Total acid digestion method $(H_2SO_4:HClO_4:HNO_3)$ was also employed to analyze heavy metal content in 30 paddy soils and brown rice. The rates of extracted heavy metal to total content were in the range of $12.1{\sim}39.1%$ for Cd, $20.5{\sim}45.5%$ for Cu, $10.6{\sim}30.7%$ for Pb, and $6.7{\sim}13.0%$ for Zn. 0.1M-HCl and $0.1M-HNO_3$ extractable both Cu and Pb were relatively less extracted at the high soil pH and extractable calcium site(Mine D) whereas 0.05M-EDTA and 0.005M-DTPA extractable Pb were strongly extracted at the same soils. In case of Cd, Cu, and Zn in soil, 4 types of extractable heavy metals and total content were highly correlated with each other. However, there were positive correlations between 0.1 M-HCl and $0.1M-HNO_3$ extractable Pb as well as between 0.05M-EDTA and 0.005M-DTPA extractable Pb, which were relatively similar extractants in chemical properties. The rates of heavy metals in brown rice to total contents in soils were in the order Zn>Cd>Cu>Pb. Specially, the rate of Cd, Pb, and Zn were lower at the highest level of soil pH and Ex. Ca. Both Cd and Zn in brown rice were positively correlated with those of all soil extractants. It was estimated that the solubility following to the plant uptake of Cd and Zn were higher than those of Cu and Pb considering relationships between all kinds of heavy metal contents in soil and those in brown rice.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.3 s.184
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• pp.277-293
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• 2007

Seasonal and spatial variations in the concentrations of trace elements, pH and Eh were found in a creek watershed affected by mine drainage and leachate from several waste rock dumps within the As-Pb-rich Indae mine site. Because of mining activity dating back to about 40 years ago and rupture of the waste rock dumps, this creek was heavily contaminated. Due to the influx of leachate and mine drainage, the water quality of upstream reach in this creek was characterized by largest seasonal and spatial variations in concentrations of Zn(up to $5.830 mg/{\ell}$), Cu(up to $1.333 mg/{\ell}$), Cd(up to $0.031 mg/{\ell}$) and $SO_4^{2-}$(up to $173 mg/{\ell}$), relatively acidic pH values (3.8-5.1) and highly oxidized condition. The most abundant metals in the leachate samples were in order of Zn($0.045-13.909 mg/{\ell}$), Fe($0.017-8.730mg/{\ell}$), Cu($0.010-4.154mg/{\ell}$) and Cd($n.d.-0.077mg/{\ell}$), with low pH(3.1-6.1), and high $SO_4^{2-}$(up to $310 mg/{\ell}$). The mine drainage also contained high concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cd and $SO_4^{2-}$ and remained constantly near-neutral pH values(6.5-7.0) in all the year. While the leachate and mine drainage might not affect short-term fluctuations in flow, it may significantly influence the concentrations of chemicals in the stream. The abundance and chemistry of Fe-(oxy)hydroxide within this creek indicated that the Fe-(oxy)hydroxide formation could be responsible for some removal of trace elements from the creek waters. Spatial and seasonal variations along down-stream reach of this creek were caused largely by the influx of water from uncontaminated tributaries. In addition, the trace metal concentrations in this creek have been decreased nearly down to the background level at a short distance from the discharge points without any artificial treatments after hydrologic mixing in a tributary. The nonconservative(i.e. precipitation, adsorption, oxidation, dissolution etc.) and conservative(hydrologic mixing) reactions constituted an efficient mechanism of natural attenuation which reduces considerably the transference of trace elements to rivers.