• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.177-177
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• 2023

The impacts of dams on transboundary flow are complex and challenging to project and manage, given the potential moderating influence of a broad range of anthropogenic and natural factors. This study presents a global meta-analysis of 168 studies that examines the effect magnitude of dams on downstream seasonal, annual flow, and hydrological extremes risk on 39 hotspot transboundary river basins. The study also evaluates the impact of 13 factors, such as climate, basin characteristics, dams' design and types, level of transboundary cooperation, and socioeconomic indicators, on the heterogeneity of outcomes. The findings reveal that moderators significantly influence the impact of dams on downstream flow, leading to considerable heterogeneity in outcomes. Transboundary cooperation emerges as the key factor that determines the severity of dams' effect on both dry and wet season's flows at a significance level of 0.01 to 0.05, respectively. Specifically, the presence of water-supply and irrigation dams has a significant (0.01) moderating effect on dry-season flow across basins with high transboundary cooperation. In contrast, for wet-season flow, the basin's vulnerability to climate extremes is associated with a large negative effect size. The various moderators have varying degrees of influence on the heterogeneity of outcomes, with the aridity index, population density, GDP, and risk level of hydro-political tension being the most significant factors for dry-season flow, and the risk level of hydro-political tension and basin vulnerability to climate extremes being the most significant for wet-season flow. The results suggest that transboundary cooperation is crucial for managing the impacts of dams on downstream flow, and that various other factors, such as climate, basin characteristics, and socioeconomic indicators, have significant moderating effects on the outcomes. Thus, context-specific approaches are necessary when predicting and managing the impacts of dams on transboundary flow.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4265-4271
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• 2022

Determination of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K and ²¹⁰Po in water, bottom sediments and suspended matter of river systems of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam was carried out. The average activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in waters of Ca Gau and Long Tau was 0.89 ± 0.14 and 1.08 ± 0.15 Bq m^-3 and was comparable to the levels of this radioisotope in waters of the East Sea. The activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in bottom sediments was 2.23 ± 0.81 and 3.63 ± 1.24 Bq kg^-1. The activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in water and bottom sediments could be characterized as low. So, the water areas of the Ca Gau and Long Tau rivers could be attributed to areas with insignificant pollution by technogenic radionuclides. The ²¹⁰Po activity concentration in bottom sediments of the Ca Gau and Long Tau rivers ranged from 9.2 ± 1.2 to 25.5 ± 2.1 Bq kg^-1, which is typical for river bottom sediments. Such values indicate the absence of anthropogenic enhancement of the entry of this radionuclide into the Can Gio river systems. The ⁴⁰K activity concentration varied within 467 ± 42-651 ± 39 Bq kg^-1 and represented typical values of potassium content in the bottom sediments of coastal water bodies, subject to a significant influence of the lithogenic component of suspended matter.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1390-1399
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• 2007

Samples of 45 school dust were collected in Daegu in January 2007, were sieved below 100 ${\mu}m$, and 14 elements were analyzed using ICP after an acid extraction. Results obtained from the source assessment of trace elements using enrichment factor showed that dust from playground were influenced by natural sources, while dust from classroom were influenced by urban anthropogenic sources. The measured values were remarkably higher in components from natural sources than in components from urban anthropogenic sources. Dust from classroom are highly concentrated than those from playground. Concentrations of dust in urban area are similar to those of dust in rural area and there was no significant difference in concentrations between classroom with playground soil and classroom with play-ground grass. Compared with other cities in Korea, concentrations of heavy metals in Daegu city were higher in classroom and lower in playground than those of heavy metals in other cities. Dust from classroom contained lower concentrations of trace elements than those from street in Daegu. Results of pollution indices of heavy metals indicated that playground was not contaminated with heavy metals and classroom was considered to be highly contaminated. No appreciable differences in playground were found between urban and rural areas but in case of classroom pollution, heavy metal concentrations were a little bit higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The correlation analysis among trace elements indicated that components in playground were significantly correlated, while components in classroom were less correlated. Trace element components of classroom dust were not significantly affected by those of playground dust.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.447-457
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• 2014

The number concentrations, the mass concentrations and the elemental concentrations of $PM_{10}$ have measured at Gosan site in Jeju, Korea, from March 2010 to December 2010. And the correlation and the factor analysis for the number, the mass and the elemental concentrations of $PM_{10}$ are performed to identify their relationships and sources. The average $PM_{10}$ number concentration is observed $246\;particles/cm^3$($35.7{\sim}1,017\;particles/cm^3$) and the average $PM_{10}$ mass concentration is shown $50.1{\mu}g/m^3$($16.7{\sim}441.4{\mu}g/m^3$) during this experimental period. The number concentrations are significantly decreased with increasing particle size, hence the concentrations for the smaller particles less than $2.5{\mu}m$($PM_{2.5}$) are contributed 99.6% to the total $PM_{10}$ number concentrations. The highest concentration of the 20 elements in $PM_{10}$ determined in this study is shown by S with a mean value of $1,497ng/m^3$ and the lowest concentration of them is found by Cd with a mean value of $0.57ng/m^3$. The elements in $PM_{10}$ are evidently classified into two group based on their concentrations: In group 1, including S>Na>Al>Fe>Ca>Mg>K, the elemental mean concentrations are higher than several hundred $ng/m^3$, on the other hand, the concentrations are lower than several ten $ng/m^3$ in group 2, including Zn>Mn>Ni>Ti>Cr>Co>Cu>Mo>Sr>Ba>V>Cd. The size-separated number concentrations are shown positively correlated with the mass concentrations in overall size ranges, although their correlation coefficients, which are monotonously increased or decreased with size range, are not high. The concentrations of the elements in group 1 are shown highly correlated with the mass concentrations, but the concentrations in group 2 are shown hardly correlated with the mass concentrations. The elements originated from natural sources have been predominantly related to the mass concentrations while the elements from anthropogenic sources have mainly affected on the number concentrations of $PM_{10}$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.283-299
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• 2001

The middle cover soils and clay liners collected from the Kumheung landfill in Gongiu City were analysed for As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti and Zn concentrations using 0.] N HCl digestion and total/sequential extraction experiments followed by ICP-AES determination. The uncontaminated soil and sediment samples were also analyzed for the comparison. The results of sequential extraction showed that Cu was dominant in the oxidizable fraction, and As, Ni, Sr, Ba, and Mn were in the exchangeable fraction. Zinc and Mn occurred mostly in association with reducible, residual and carbonate fractions. Most of Cd and Pb were bound to the reducible and oxidizable fractions. The main carrier of Co, Cr, Fe and 11 was the residual fraction and another important carrier was the reducible fraction. The percentage of the metals of organically-bound form in the middle cover soils and clay liner was in the order of Cu(48%) > Ti(42%) > Pb(27%) > As(25%) > Cd(20%). As deduced from sequential extraction analysis, potential order of metal mobility in the middle cover soils and clay liner from the landfill was proposed: Cd > Sr > As > Ni > Mn > Ba > Cu > Pb > Zn » Co > 11 > Fe > Cr. Based on the 'geoaccumulation index' and the 'enrichment factor' normalized to A], the level of contamination of Cu, Ni and C1' was significant in the samples from Kumheung landfill and surrounding farmland. Their enrichments were attributed partly to anthropogenic pollutions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.325-337
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• 2013

The size-fractionated aerosol samples have been collected at Gosan Site of Jeju Island during the spring season of 2010, in order to examine the chemical composition characteristics of the Asian Dust and Non-Asian Dust particles. The concentrations of ${HCO_3}^-$, Al, and nss-$Ca^{2+}$ in $PM_{10}$ had tremendously increased during the heavy Asian Dust (March 20, 2010). The concentration ratios of Asian Dust to Non-Asian Dust for the soil species (nss-$Ca^{2+}$, ${HCO_3}^-$, Al, Fe, Ti, Mn) were 12.2~30.7, meanwhile those for the anthropogenic species (nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${NH_4}^+$, ${NO_3}^-$, $K^+$, Zn, Pb, and Cu) were 2.9~7.8. During the heavy Asian Dust event, the concentration increase of ${NO_3}^-$ in $PM_{2.5}$ were much more apparent than those of nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$ and ${NH_4}^+$, and the soil species (nss-$Ca^{2+}$ and ${HCO_3}^-$) showed much higher concentration increase. The neutralization factor of $NH_3$ was higher than that of $CaCO_3$. However, the neutralization factor of $CaCO_3$ in $PM_{10}$ was exceptionally high during the heavy Asian Dust, showing the evidence of heavy migration of soil particles. From the study for size fractionated particles, it was found that nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$ and ${NH_4}^+$ were mostly distributed in fine particle mode, on the other hand, ${NO_3}^-$ existed evenly in both fine and coarse particle modes, and the soil species (nss-$Ca^{2+}$, Al, Fe, etc.) were mainly in the latter mode. During the heavy Asian Dust, in particular, the concentrations of ${NH_4}^+$, nss-${SO_4}^{2-}$, $K^+$, Zn, and Pb had increased in coarse particle mode as well.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 1997

Retention ponds have been dug along some of the motorways to control water flow during rainstorms and to minmize environmental pollution. A retention pond located at Les Ardilleres about 20km South of Orleans along the A-71 motorway has been selected to evaluate the effectiveness of such a pond as a trap for heavy metals. Based on the "index of geoaccumulation" and the "enrichment factor" normalized to Fe introduced by Muller in 1979 and by Helz in 1976, respectively, the degree of contamination by heavy metals for the roadside soil and the settling particles was evaluated. As expected, the contamination was very severe in the roadside soil, while it was not so great in the settling particles. Using these methods, cadmium anomaly was traced in the settling particles of the retention pond, their occurrence being attributed partly to natural and partly to anthropogenic pollution. The estimated input of heavy metals associated with settling particles to the pond was 0.9 g/day Pb, 2.1 g/day Zn and 6mg/day Cd. A tentative mass balance of Pb and Zn originated by motor vehicles suggested that only 5 to l1% of heavy metals deposited on the surface of the motorway is carried to the retention pond by runoff water ; suggestions are made to improve their efficiency.ve their efficiency.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.415-429
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• 2003

This study was objected to identify the difference of water quality and the characteristics of water contamination in adjacent bed-rock areas of Upper Hwajeonni and Guryongsan Formations in Miwon, Choongchungbuk-do, Korea. Water samples showed mainly (Ca, Mg)-$HCO_3$ type in Upper Hawjeonni Formation and (Ca, Mg)-$SO_4$ and (Ca, Mg)-$HCO_3$ types in Guryongsan Formation indicating the enrichment of $SO_4$ in major compositions. Groundwater quality could be divided into two groups based on the major weathering processes, implied by the ratio of bicarbonate to silica. Carbonate-silicate weathering predominates in Upper Hwajeonni Formation, and silicate weathering in Guryongsan Formation. Stream-water quality also appeared to be controlled by water-rock interaction. Cluster analysis identified three groups of groundwater and four groups of stream-water with distinctive geochemical characteristics. The results of factor analysis indicated that the levels of each chemical constituent in water samples derived from both natural weathering reactions and anthropogenic contamination sources. To delineate the pollution potential of water resources, Modified Pollution Index(M.P.I.) was developed. M.P.I. scores of water samples ranged from -0.08 to 0.18, with mostly positive along the rock quarry in Guryongsan Formation areas. M.P.I. scores appeared to be a useful predictor of metal contamination of water resources.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.717-726
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• 2022

This study was conducted to assess the geochemical contamination degree of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn in the soil and water samples from an abandoned gold mine. Enrichment Factor (EF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were carried out to assess the geochemical contamination degree of the soil samples. Variations of sulfate and heavy metals concentration in water samples were determined to identify the geochemical distribution with respect to the distance from the mine tailing dam. Geochemical pollution indices indicated significant contaminated with As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in the soil samples that areas close to the mine tailing dam, while, Sb showed similar indices in all soil samples. These results indicated that the As, Cd, Pb, and Zn dispersion has occurred via anthropogenic sources, such as mining activities. In terms of water samples, anomalies in the concentrations of As, Cd, Zn, and SO₄^2- was determined at specific area, in addition, the concentrations of the elements gradually decreased with distance. This result implies the heavy metals distribution in water has carried out by the weathering of sulfide minerals in the mine tailing and soil. The study area has been conducted the remediation of contaminated soil in the past, however, the geochemical dispersion of heavy metals was supposed to be occurred from the potential contamination source. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the soil and water is necessary after the completion of remediation.