• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.553-565
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• 2002

Seasonal variations in vertical distributions of metals were investigated in the contaminated paddy soils around Siheung Cu-Pb-Zn and Deokeum Au-Ag mines. Geochemical behavior of metals was also evaluated with respect to redox changes during the cultivation of rice. Two microcosms simulating the rice-growing paddy field were set up in the laboratory. The raw paddy soils from two sites showed differences in mineralogy, metal concentrations and gecochemical parameters, and it is suggested that high proportions of exchangeable fractions in metals may give high dissolution rates at Deokeum. In both microcosms of Siheung and Deokeum, redox differences between surface and subsurface of paddy soils were maintained during the flooded period of 18 weeks. Siheung soil had neutral to alkaline pH conditions, while strongly acidic conditions and high Eh values were found at the surface soil of Deokeum. The concentrations of dissolved Fe and Mn were higher in the subsurface pore waters than in interface and upper waters from both microcosms, indicating reductive dissolution under reducing conditions. On the contrary, dissolved Pb and Zn had high concentrations at the surface under oxidizing conditions. From the Siheung microcosm, release of dissolved metals into upper waters was decreased. presumably by the trap effect of Fe- and Mn-rich layers at the interface. However, in the Deokeum microcosm, significant amounts of Pb and Zn were released into upper water despite the relatively lower contents in raw paddy soil, and seasonal variations in the chemical fractionation of metals were observed between flooded and drained conditions. Under acidic conditions, rice may uptake high amounts of metals from the surface of paddy soils during the flooded periods, and increases of exchangeable phases may also increase the bioavailability of heavy metals in the drained conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.35-44
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to prevent spreading of contaminants from movement of underground water by creating a barrier using artificial freezing method on a soil contaminated by oils and various NAPLs. Specimens with 80% and 90% degrees of saturation were prepared to form freezing barrier using artificial freezing method. With increasing freezing time of freezing barrier, barrier was formed faster in the specimen with 90% degree of saturation by about an hour compared to the specimen with 80% degree of saturation. In addition, thinnest thickness of frozen barrier in both specimens was 50mm after 12 hours of freezing time, showing expansion of freezing area with time. The results of this study can be applied to barrier in waste reclamation sites and contaminated regions or to flow control of contaminants.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.148-156
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• 2006

Potential hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were screened from the site artificially polluted with 20,000 ppm of diesel. Among the isolates, two strains, SJD2 and SJD4, showed higher activities to degrade diesel on the Bushnell-Hass broth medium containing 2% of diesel. 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that SJD2 and SJD4 were Bacillus fusifomis and B. cereus, respectively. Both strains were found to grow in a wide range of temperature between $20^{\circ}C-55^{\circ}C$, with the best at $30^{\circ}C-37^{\circ}C$. This is the first report, as far as we know, that B. fusifomis is capable of degrading diesel. We hope that a new isolate, B. fusifomis, will efficiently conduct bioremediation at the contaminated sites with petroleum hydrocarbons.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.569-573
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• 2014

In a paleo-parasitological analysis of soil samples obtained from V-shaped pits dating to the ancient Baekje period in Korean history, we discovered Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Clonorchis sinensis eggs. In light of the samples' seriously contaminated state, the V-shaped pits might have served as toilets, cesspits, or dung heaps. For a long period of time, researchers scouring archaeological sites in Korea have had difficulties locating such structures. In this context then, the present report is unique because similar kind of the ancient ruins must become an ideal resource for successful sampling in our forthcoming paleoparasitological studies.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.515-517
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• 2003

In order to assess the risk of adverse health effects on human exposure to arsenic and heavy metals influenced by past mining activities, environmental geochemical surveys were undertaken in the abandoned metal mine areas (Dongil Au-Ag-Cu-Zn, Okdong Cu-Pb-Zn, Songcheon Au-Ag, Dongjung Au-Ag-Pb-Zn, Dokok Au-Ag-Cu and Hwacheon Au-Ag-Pb-Zn mines). Arsenic and other heavy metals were highly elevated in the tailings from the Dongil, the Songcheon and the Dongjung mines. High concentrations of heavy metals except As were also found in tailings from the Okdong, the Dokok and the Hwacheon mines. These significant concentrations can impact on soils and waters around the tailing dumps. Risk compounds deriving from mine sites either constitute a toxic risk or a carcinogenic risk. The hazard index (H.I.) of As in the Dongil, the Okdong, the Songcheon and the Hwacheon mine areas was higher value more than 1.0. In the Okdong and the Songcheon mine areas, H.I. value of Cd exceeded 1.0. These values of As and Cd were the highest in the Songcheon mine area. Therefore, toxic risks for As and Cd exist via exposure (ingestion) of contaminated soil, groundwater and rice grain in these mine areas. The cancer risk for As in stream or ground water used for drinking water from the Songcheon, the Dongil, the Okdong, the Dongjung and the Hwacheon mine areas was 3E-3, 8E-4, 7E-4, 2E-4 and 1E-4, respectively.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.79-94
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• 2016

In order to evaluate the contamination and health risk, levels of six hazardous elements i.e., Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb in soils of 12 different land-uses were measured. The average concentration of Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, As and Cd in soils were 267, 239, 206, 195, 58 and 16 mg/kg, respectively. Levels of each metal exceeded the environmental action level for soils, which could pose significant risk to human. The metal concentrations were subsequently used to establish hazard indices (for adults and children) where the 5th and 95th percentile values were used to derive the hazard index through different exposure pathways (ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation). Considering the total exposure through each of the three pathways, the hazard index elucidates that there was a potency of non-cancer risk at most of the sites for both the adults and children. The findings of this study suggested that different land-use soils were severely contaminated with hazardous elements and attention is needed on the potential health risks to the exposed inhabitants.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.92-105
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• 2014

Microbial characteristics of bacterial population were investigated in human remains and soil inside the bones in excavated grave no.4 and no.5 at Keundokgol site, Osu-ri, Buyeo. Phylogenetic characteristics of bacterial populations were analyzed by direct extracting of ancient DNA. In this study, based on the 16S rDNA sequences, in case of grave no.4, 319s from human remain were classified into 11 phyla, and 462s from soil were classified into 16 phyla. In case of grave no.5, 271s from human remain were classified into 10 phyla, and 497s from soil were classified into 11 phyla. Especially, Actinobacteria phylogenetic group are dominant group of bacterial populations in grave no.4 and no.5. Also, most of these were analyzed uncultured group. Thus, the discovery of a diversely microbial community and uncultured group was thought to be due to the specificity of the sample. Conclusively the general excavated human bones were contaminated with soil bacteria species their near around. This results contribute to preservation and management of ancient human bone from archaeological sites.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 1992

To investigate differences in lead content in soils and paddy rices, affected by air pollutants from the Janghang Smelter, soil samples at the different directions, distances, and depths, surface(0-15cm depth) and subsurface(15-30cm depth) in 1982 and 1990, and rice plants at soil sampling sites in 1990 were separately collected at the Janghang Smelter area affected by combustible waste gas from the smelter chimney. Soil samples were extracted with $4M-HNO_3$ and plant samples were digested with mixture of $HNO_3$ and $HCIO_4$ for analyzing by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The Pb contents in soils ranged from 10.3 to 644.8mg $kg^{-1}$. The average content in 1990 was higher than that in 1982. The Pb content in soils at sites nearer the center of the smelter was higher than that at sites farther from the center. The highest lead content was found at the east direction, and was low in order of east>north-north east>north east > north. The variation of Pb level in soils at east sites was more considerable than other directions. The Pb level in surface soils was higher than that in subsurface soils. The contaminated radius of Pb was until 3km all at east, north-north east and north east. A significant correlation was found between Pb content in surface soils of 1982 and that in surface soils of 1990, between Pb content in soils and contents of Cd and Zn in soils, and between Pb content in soils and soil properties as organic matter, available silicate, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable $Ca^{++}$, $Mg^{++}$ and $Na^+$. Pb content in brown rice was low in the panicle axis, and brown rice, and Pb content in stem was 3.26 times of that in brown rice. Pb content in brown rice ranged from 2.2 to 9.0 mg $kg^{-1}$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.177-187
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• 1999

Gravity, magnetic and VLF surveys were conducted to investigat the structural stability and hazards associated with the Ubong landfill in Pohang City, which has been built to dump industrial wastes. In 1994, the collapse of a bank happened in the 6th landfill site due to sudden heavy rain, and a large quantity of waste materials flowed out to the nearby landfill sites, factories and roads. We used $10{\times}10m$ resolution DEM data for gravity reductions. The maximum variation of the terrain effect in the survey area is about 0.5 mgal and the terrain effect is large in the vicinity of bank boundary. The Bouguer gravity anomaly map shows the effect due to the variatino of thickness and type of waste materials. The small negative gravity anomaly increases from the 9th site to the 6th site. The small negative gravity anomaly of the 9th site reflects the relatively shallow dumping depth of average 14.5 m in this site and increased density of waste materials by the repeated stabilization process of soil overlaying. The 6th site is located at the center of the former valley and rainfall and groundwater are expected to flow from south-east to north-west. Therefore, considering the previous accident of mixing waste and bank materials at the north-west boundary of the landfill, there may be some environmental problems of leakage of contaminated water and bank stability. The complex inversion technique using Simulated annealing and Marquardt-Levenberg methods was applied to calculate three-dimensional density distribution from gravity data. In the case of 6th site, it is apparent that the landfill had been dumped in four sectors. However, most part of the 9th site and showed that high magnetic industrial wastes were concentrated in the 6th site. The result of magnetic survey showing low magnetic anomalies along the boundaries of two sites is similar to that of gravity data. The VLF data also reveals four divided sectors in the 6th site, and overall anomaly trend indicates the directio of former valley.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.11-17
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• 2005

Characteristics of phenanthrene removal in the Electrokinetic (EK)-Fenton process were investigated in a 2-dimensional test cell in a viewpoint of the effect of gravity and electrosmotic flow (EOF). When the constant voltage of 100 V was applied to this system, the current decreased from 1,000 to 290 mA after 28 days, because soil resistance increased due to the exhaustion of ions in soil by electroosmosis and electromigration. Accumulated EOF in two cathode reservoirs was 10.3 L and the EOF rate was kept constant for 28 days. At the end of operation, the concentration of phenanthrene was observed to be very low near the anode and increased in the cathode region because hydrogen peroxide was supplied from anode to cathode region following the direction of EOP. Additionally, the concentration of phenanthrene decreased at the bottom of the test cell because the electrolyte solution containing hydrogen peroxide was largely transported toward the bottom due to a low capillary action in the soil with high porosity. Average removal efficiency of phenanthrene by EK-Fenton process was 81.4% for 28 days. In-situ EK-Fenton process would overcome the limitations of conventional remediation technologies and effectively remediate the contaminated sites.