• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.217-223
• /
• 2012

BACKGROUND: Increase of heavy metals in agricultural ecosystem has become a social issue nationwide as it is related to public health. This study was performed to find out the status and long-term trends with consecutive application with the commercial liquid pig manure in the agricultural fields. METHODS AND RESULTS: Heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc were analyzed in the 41 samples of paddy fields and 54 samples of upland fields consecutively applied with commercial liquid pig manure for 0 to 16 years. Heavy metal accumulation were not increased statistically at the both paddy and upland fields as the consecutive application year of commercial liquid pig manure were increased. However, some of surveyed upland soils exceeded the criteria of cadmium, copper, and zinc designated by the Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. CONCLUSION: Therefore, analysis of heavy metals, specially copper and zinc, in agricultural fields is absolutely necessary before liquid pig manure application to the fields. In addition, heavy metal accumulation in agricultural fields following to the long-term application of liquid pig manure will be monitored periodically considering with bioavailability of copper and zinc to the crops as an essential nutrients.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.389-398
• /
• 2006

To examine sediment characteristics and find anthropogenic effects on riverine wetland ecosystems, paleoecological study was carried out at Bam islands in Seoul. Three hundred cm deep sediment cores were retrieved and dated with the lamination analysis method until 36 cm depth (1986). Sediments were divided into three zones based on the depth profiles of physico-chemical variables: below 160 cm depth (before 1968), between 160 and 40cm depths and above 40cm depth (after 1986). Physico-chemical characteristics were very variable between 160 and 40cm depths and this indicates unstable sedimentation environment. Even though heavy metal concentrations were relatively low, Cd and As contents have increased continuously. Dry mass accumulation rates during $1968{\sim}1986\;and\;1987{\sim}2003$ were 140 and $21\;kg\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. This was related to flooding intensity and duration. Bulk density, water content, loss on ignition, N, C, C/N ratio were very similar to other river delta but Ca, Na and K contents were 2 to 4 times higher than others. Heavy metal contents except Pb were lower or similar to those in other studied marshes in Korea. Heavy metal and Mg contents were correlated with each other and this suggests that the source of heavy metals be parent rock. From $^{13}C$ dating dates of organic materials in sediment, it is suggested that organic matter originated from the watershed and flooding intensity in the watershed might be responsible for the source of sediments. This study provides reference data for the comparison of sediment characteristics at islands in river and for the management of Bam islands.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.125-130
• /
• 2001

Experimental culture of Halocynthia roretzi was carried out near coast by Wolsung from January to August 1997 to investigate accumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Cu) by H. roretzi, Water temperature, salinity, pH and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) were $10.7\sim25.2^{\circ}C$, $33.0\sim34.6\%_{\circ},\;8.25\sim8.49\;and\;3.84\ksim7.92\;mg/L$, respectively, The heavy metal accumulation in H. roretzi was in the order of Cu>Pb>Cd. Heavy metal concentrations in the organs showed following order; Gill${\geq}Viscera{\gg}$Gonad>Muscle>Mantle for Cd, $Gill{\geq}Viscera{\gg}$ Gonad> Muscle$ {\geq}$Mantle for Pb and Viscera>Gill${\gg}$ Gonad>Muscle>Mantle for Cu.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2019

This study was performed to select the effective plant for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated areas. After cultivation of fifteen Compositae plants on soil contaminated with heavy metals for 8 weeks, the growth response and accumulation ability of each parts for heavy metal, such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc were analyzed. Except Adiantum capillus-veneris, growth of Aster incisus, Coreopsis drumondii), Dendranthema indicum, Saussurea pulchella were relatively fine. Arsenic accumulation ability was the highest by Artemisia gmelini ($25.52mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ DW) in underground part, and D. sichotense ($3.35mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) in aerial part. Cadmium was the highest by Aster magnus ($2.50mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) in aerial part. Aerial and underground part of S. pulchella showed the highest copper accumulation (24.29, $99.92mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$). In lead, 1.43 (A. magnus)${\sim}5.00mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ (S. deltoides) were accumulated in aerial part among fifteen Compositae plants. Aster hayatae ($140.09mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$), Aster yomena ($109.07mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$), A. magnus ($100.21mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) are absorbed more than $100mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ of Zinc. Therefore, they are considered to be phytoremediation material of zinc contaminated areas.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.329-334
• /
• 2002

In order to compare the lead and cadmium levels, studies of heavy metal accumulation of feral pigeons from rural (Deokjeok island), central urban (Seoul city), and industrial complexes (Ansan, Busan, Ulsan, and Yochon) were conducted. The outstanding result of this study is that feral pigeons in urban and industrial complex areas contain high Pb and Cd concentrations in kidney, bone, liver, and lung tissues compared to those of rural areas. Such a trend was prominent in the target organs, bone and kidney, about 10 times greater than in rural areas. On the other hand, the lead levels of the Yochon Industrial Complex were noticeably lower than those of other industrial complex areas. Not only feral pigeons habit of street and ground feeding, but also atmospheric metal concentration offers an explanation for the heavy metal concentration differences in the study areas.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.212-221
• /
• 2020

Background: Rapid industrialization has caused various impacts on nature, including heavy metal pollution. However, the impacts of industrialization vary depending on the types of industrializing activity and surrounding environment. South Korea is a proper region because the rapid socio-economical changes have been occurred since the late nineteenth century. Therefore, in this study, we estimate the anthropogenic impacts on an ecosystem from a sediment core of Yonghwasil-mot, an irrigation reservoir on the western coast of Korea, in terms of heavy metal concentrations, nutrient influx, and pollen composition. Results: The sediment accumulation rate (SAR) determined by 210Pb geochronology showed two abrupt peaks in the 1930s and 1950s, presumably because of smelting activity and the Korean War, respectively. The following gradual increase in SAR may reflect the urbanization of recent decades. The average concentrations of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) during the twentieth century were > 48% compared to those before the nineteenth century, supporting the influence of smelting activity. However, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the As, Cu, and Pb concentrations decreased by 19% compared to levels in the twentieth century, which is coincident with the closure of the smelter in 1989 and government policy banning leaded gasoline since 1993. The pollen assemblage and nutrient input records exhibit changes in vegetation cover and water level of the reservoir corresponding to anthropogenic deforestation and reforestation, as well as to land-use alteration. Conclusions: Our results show that the rapid socio-economic development since the twentieth century clearly affected the vegetation cover, land use, and metal pollutions.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.44-53
• /
• 2021

Urban stormwater runoff contains heavy metals that accumulate in on-site treatment systems, thus resulting to facility deterioration and maintenance problems. In order to resolve these problems, low impact development (LID) technologies that promote natural materials circulation are widely used. LID facilities are capable of treating heavy metals in the runoff by means of plant uptake; however, the uptake or phytoremediation capabilities of plants have not been studied extensively, making it difficult to select the most suitable plant species for a certain LID design. This study investigated the vegetative components of an LID facility, roadside plants, and plants in landscape areas with different heavy metal exposure and frequency to determine the uptake capabilities of different plant species. The plants harvested inside the LID facilities and roadsides with high vehicular traffic exhibited greater heavy metal concentrations in their tissues as compared with the plants in landscape areas. Generally, the accumulation of heavy metals in the plant tissues were found to be influenced by the environmental characteristics (i.e. influent water quality, air pollution level, etc.). Dianthus, Metasequoia, Rhododendron lateritium, and Mugwort were found to be effective in removing Zn in the urban stormwater runoff. Additionally, Dianthus, Metasequoia, Mugwort, and Ginkgo Biloba exhibited excellent removal of Cu. Cherry Tree, Metasequoia, and mugwort efficiently removed Pb, whereas Dianthus was also found to be effective in treating As, Cr, and Cd in stormwater. Overall, different plant species showed varying heavy metal uptake capabilities. The results of this study can be used as an effective tool in selecting suitable plant species for removing heavy metals in the runoff from different land use types.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.961-967
• /
• 2012

There have been many studies about efficiency of amendments for heavy metal stabilization through chemical assessment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of several soil amendments (lime, agric-lime, dolomite, steel slag, fly ash and acid mine drainage sludge) on heavy metals stabilization through not only chemical but also biological assessments (phytotoxicity test) in abandoned mining area soil. In order to achieve the goal, we conducted preliminary screening experiment targeting 12 types of crop plants such as radish, young radish, chinese cabbage, winter grown cabbage, cabbage, bok choy, chicory, crown daisy, carrot, chives, spinach, and spring onion. The results of inhibition rates of early plant growth in metal-contaminated soil against non-contaminated soil and the correlations between inhibitions items showed that the bok choy was appropriate specie with respect to confirm the effect of several amendments. Several amendment treatments on contaminated soil brought about the changes in the root and shoot elongation of bok choy after 1 week. Agric-lime, dolomite and steel slag treatments showed the great efficiency of reducing on mobility of heavy metals using chemical assessment. But in contrary, these treatments resulted in the reduction of root and shoot elongation and only AMD sludge increased that of elongation, significantly. When considering both chemical and biological assessments, AMD sludge could be recommended the compatible amendment for target contaminated soil. In conclusion, biological assessment was also important aspect of decision of successful soil remediation.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.143-147
• /
• 2011

Cadmium is considered one of the most toxic, non biodegradable heavy metal for the human and animals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the changes in biochemical parameters of blood and accumulation of cadmium in various tissue caused by various levels of dietary cadmium chloride ($CdCl_2$) in broiler chicks. $CdCl_2$ was administered through drinking water to broiler chicks. In spectral analysis, $CdCl_2$ treatment caused a significant increase in Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), creatinine and uric acid levels in all treated groups. Intriguingly, the GPT, creatinine, and uric acid levels were significantly higher at 75 mg/kg as compared to the groups treated with high doses (100, 125 and 150 mg/kg) of $CdCl_2$. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for the determination of Cd accumulation in kidney, liver and Breast muscles. AAS analysis revealed that Cd accumulation is increased in breast muscles as compared to liver and kidney at higher doses of Cd than 75 mg/kg.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2013

In this study, the effect of squid liver powder intake on accumulation of cadmium in mice was investigated. Subjects were divided into 4 groups including the control group (CON), squid liver powder group with lipids not removed (SLP100), and squid liver powder groups with lipids removed (LFSLP50 and LFSLP100). Feed intake and food efficiency ratio of squid liver powder groups was significantly higher than the CON. As a result of investigating cadmium content in hair, serum, liver, and kidney during intake of squid liver powder, all groups showed increase in cadmium accumulation through consistent, long-term intake. Especially, cadmium content in liver and kidney of LFSLP100 was significantly higher than the content of SLP100 and CON. As a result of pathological observation on liver and kidney tissues according to squid liver powder diet, LFSLP100 showed most serious pathological symptoms. In case of kidney tissues, degeneration was significantly more severe in LFSLP100 compared to other groups. Such results suggest that cadmium concentration in human body can be increased by ingestion of whole squid including internal organs and that tissues can be damaged by increased cadmium concentration. More specific and systematic studies are deemed necessary.