• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.15-22
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• 2018

The main objective of this study was to analyse heavy metals in sediments obtained from Gwangan bridge and to evaluate pollution intensity of the sites. To evaluate pollution intensity of the sites, we used enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index, potential ecological risk factor (PERF), and mean PEL quotient. Pollution intensities of these sites were evaluated by above methods, and we found most dangerous heavy metal and polluted sites. All sites showed non polluted or low risk for the heavy metals such as Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, but all sites were categorized as minor enrichment for Cd. G4 was evaluated as moderately polluted by Cd ($I_{geo}$) but other sites were unpolluted by heavy metals. In summary, Cd was found to be higher concentrations for all sites. For G4 and G5 sites, Pb and Zn in addition to Cd were higher than other sites.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.504-510
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• 2014

In this study, physico-chemical properties and pollution degree of surface sediments collected at 5 stations(S1~S5) of Incheon H wharf in March 2014 were investigated. From particle size, surface area, XRD and XRF analyses, the sediment samples consisted of similar oxides and minerals. Considering total score of COD, AVS and IL, pollution level ranged between 2 and 3 based on domestic standards. In case of heavy metal contamination, Cd, Ni and Pb were classified as moderately polluted by USEPA standards. However, Cu, Zn and Cr were classified as heavily polluted. With geoaccumulation index value($I_{geo}$), Cd contamination was estimated as class 3. In addition, the calculated enrichment factors of Cd, Pb and Zn were exceeded a value of 1. Site S4 was high as 3.1 in total enrichment factor.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.520-527
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• 2005

In order to investigate the geochemical characteristics of surface sediments in streams of upper Yeongsan River drainage system, sediment samples from the main stream of Yeongsan river, Hwangryong river, Gwangju and Jiseok streams were collected and analyzed for grain size and metal and organic carbon contents. The metal contents in the sediments are mainly dependent on organic matter contents in the domestic sewage, grain size of the sediments and geology around the streams. Enrichment factor (EF) and index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) representing the degree of metal contamination in the sediments are relatively low in the main stream of Yeongsan river main stream, Hwangryong river and Jiseok stream. However, those of Gwangju stream show the EF maximum values of P=8.30, Cu=5.55, Zn=14.29 and Pb=7.45 and the Igeo maximum values of P=3.58, Cu=4.43, Zn=3.22 and Pb=1.59.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.626-637
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• 2013

We measured the grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and trace metals (Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Hg, and As) of intertidal surface sediment collected from 11 islands (62 stations) in the southern region of Jeollanam Province. The objective of this research was to evaluate the organic matter and trace metals contaminations of sediments from coastal island tidal flats. Surface sediment texture was characterized as follows: mud, sandy silt, muddy sand, and slightly gravelly sand facies. The finer sediments are mainly dominated in the northern part of each island. The concentrations of IL, COD, AVS and some trace metals (Al, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Hg) were higher in the northwestern part of Wan Island and the area between Gogeum and Sinji Islands, and were associated with relatively finer sediment, as compared to other locations. The concentrations of Mn, Pb, Cd, and As were higher in the northwestern and southeastern parts of Geoguem and Pyungil Islands, but were not correlated with mean grain size. Based on sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the concentrations of trace metals were lower than the values of effect range low (ERL), used in United States, and threshold effects level (TEL), used in Korea, with exception of As. Similarly, the intertidal sediments were moderately contaminated with As, based on the the enrichment factor (EF) and the geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$). The high concentration of As in intertidal sediments from this study region may be due to the input of naturally or artificially contaminated submarine groundwater, contaminated waste from seaweed aquaculture operations and/or land-based seaweed processing facilities. Further studies are needed to identify the sources of As in this study region, and to determine the effects of As contamination on coastal ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals discharged from various sources contaminate the soil and water and the residuals can persistently be accumulated. In this study, the concentration of soil heavy metals was assessed over the whole regions of Korea based on the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index. METHODS AND RESULTS: The data of averaged concentrations of heavy metals and fluorine were collected from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) and the research papers published. In order to classify the levels of heavy metal concentration, the contamination index, including the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index, based on the relative ratio of the actual concentration of heavy metals in the soil to the background concentration was calculated. In addition, the distribution of heavy metals in soils was visualized by using the geographic information system (GIS). As a result, the Cd contamination in the soils was the most concerned. CONCLUSION(S): This study very roughly indicated the outline of heavy metal concentration over the whole regions of Korea. The change in heavy metals' concentration over the time should further be monitored and the larger data of heavy metal contamination are needed for better understanding in the future.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2012

To investigate the effect of aircraft traffic emissions on soil pollution, metal levels were analyzed for 8 metals (Fe, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn and Cd) from the vicinity of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in Delhi, India. The texture of the airport soil was observed to be sandy. Among the metals, Cd showed minimum concentration ($2.07{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$), while Fe showed maximum concentration ($4379{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$). The highest metal accumulation was observed at the landing site. Significant correlations were observed between metals and different textures (sand, silt, and clay) as well as with organic carbon (OC). The results indicate that grain size play a major role in OC retention in soil and subsequently helps in adsorption of metals in soil. M$\ddot{u}$ller's geoaccumulation index (I-geo) showed that airport soil was contaminated due to Cd and Pb with the pollution class 2 and 1, respectively. Pollution load index of the airport site was 1.34-3 times higher than the background site. The results of factor analysis suggested that source of the soil metal is mainly from natural weathering of soil, aircraft exhaust, and automobile exhaust from near by area. With respect to Dutch target values, the airport soils showed ~3 times higher Cd concentration. The study highlighted the future risk of enhanced metal pollution with respect to Cd and Pb due to aircraft trafficking.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Most of the tailings have been left without any management in abandoned metalliferous mines and have become the main source of heavy metal contamination for agricultural soils and crops in the these areas. METHODS AND RESULTS: This experiment was carried out to investigate the assessment of the heavy metal contamination in paddy soils located on downstream of the closed metalliferous mine. The average total concentrations of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) in paddy soils were 8.88, 56.7, 809, 754, and 37.9 mg/kg, respectively. Specially, the average concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn were higher than those of warning criteria for soil contamination(4 mg/kg for Cd, 200 mg/kg for Pb, and 300 mg/kg for Zn) in agricultural soil established by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. The proportions of 0.1 M HCl extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As concentration to total concentration of these heavy metals in paddy soils were 27.7, 21.3, 35.1, 13.8 and 10.5%, respectively. The pollution index of these five metals in paddy soils ranged from 0.42 to 11.92. Also, the enrichment factor (EFc) of heavy metals in paddy soils were in the order as Cd>Pb>Zn>Cu>As, and the enrichment factor in paddy soil varied considerably among the sampling sites. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) of heavy metals in soils were in the order as Cd>Pb>Zn>Cu>As, specially, the average geoaccumulation index of Cd, Pb, and Zn (Igeo 2.49~3.10) were relatively higher than that of other metals in paddy soils. CONCLUSION: Based on the pollution index, enrichment factor, and geoaccumulation index for heavy metal in paddy soils located on downstream of closed metalliferous mine, the main contaminants are mine waste materials and mine drainage including mine activity.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.393-405
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• 2007

To examine the sedimentary geochemical characteristics of sediment in the Tamjin River and Doam bay, the analysis was conducted, using the sample obtained in February 2000, on the grain size and the contents of metallic elements and organic carbon. The factors that influence the geochemical behavior of metallic elements in the surface sediment are grain size, organism, surrounding soil and $CaCO_3$. To find out the pollution level of metallic elements, the enrichment factor (EF) and the index of geoaccumulation ($I_{geo}$) were researched. The majority of metallic elements sustain their values in natural state. The elements such as K, Ba, Zr, etc. appear to be rich in some places. The EF and $I_{geo}$ of P, Cu, Zn, and Pb, which belong to toxic heavy metals, are partly related with man-made pollution. P and Cu have a high EF, Pb has a high $I_{geo}$ and Zn is high in both EF and $I_{geo}$. The low contents of P and Cu are not likely to be related with the pollution of water environment. However, given the development of relative pollution, the research and the management regarding the pollutants are needed. Because Pb, naturally enriched by geological characteristics, has a large influence on water environment along with Zn, the adequate measures against man-made pollution should be worked out.

• 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.40 no.1 s.182
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• pp.15-28
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• 2007

The study is for contaminations of major, rare earth and trace elements of the farmland soils from the Boeunjeil mine area. The results are compared with the soils of Chungjoo, Deokpyeong, Boeun and Chubu areas. Fe and S contents of the contaminated area are high relative to those from the uncontaminated areas, Chungjoo and Boeun areas. Trace elements of the contaminated area are high relative to those from uncontaminated area, Chunajoo, Deokpyeong, Boeun and Chubu areas. The trace elements ares divided into Cd, Ni, Sr, U, V, Zn and As, Co, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb, based on these dispersion and correlation. Two groups show the positive correlation. Enrichment factor of potentially toxic elements from contaminated area is >5 value, but <4 value in the uncontaminated area. In the geoaccumulation index of the minor elements, the contaminated area has >1 value and the uncontaminated area has <1 value except Mn. Enrichment index of potentially toxic elements(As, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, U, Zn) ranges from 0.3 to 87.0 in the contaminated area and from 0.4 to 3.9 in the uncontaminated area. Overall results show that the high contents of farmland soils for the elements(Fe, S, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, U, Zn) indicate the contamination by coal-related activities.