The controversial points for the assessment of soil contamination related to the change of pH of extraction solution in using partial extraction in standard method in Korea

국내 토양오염 공정시험방법의 용출법 사용시 용출액의 pH의 변화가 토양 오염 평가에 미치는 문제점

Heavy metals are extracted from Chonju stream sediment, roadside soils and sediments along Honam expressway, soils and tailings from mining area using partial ectraction in Standard Method, partial ectraction method with maintaining 0.1N of extraction solution and acid digestion. In samples having buffer capacity against acid, 0.1N of extraction solution can not be maintained and pH of extraction solution increases up to 8.0 when partial extraction in Standard Method is used. The averages and ranges of (heavy metals extracted using partial extraction in standard method, HPE)/(heavy metals extracted using partial extraction method with maintaining 0.1N of extraction solution, HPEM) values are 0.506 and 0.145~1.126 in Cd, 0.534~ and 0.078~0.928 in Zn, 0.461 and 0.041~1.715 in Mn, 0.359 and 0.011~0.874 in Cu, 0.195 and 0.018~1.785 in Cr, 0.710 and 0.003~3.075 in Pb, and 0.088 and 1.73$\times$10$^{-5}$ ~0.303 in Fe. These data indicate that the difference between HPE and HPEM is big in the order of Fe, Cr, Cu, Mn, Cd, Zn and Pb. It is quite possible that the partial extraction method in Standard Method of soil in Korea is not adequate for an assessment of contamination in area where buffer capacity of soil will be decreased or lost after a long term exposure of soils to environmental damage.