• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.497-510
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• 2010

Considering to the geochemical behaviors and environmental changes of bottom sediments in streams, Gwangju metropolitan city, this study focuses to analyses on grain sizes, metal elements and organic carbons in sediment samples from Yeongsan and Hwangryong rivers, and Gwangju stream. In the sediments, contents of Cu, Zn, Pb, P and TOC were highly variable, in the case of Gwangju stream particularly. Yenogsan and Hwangryong rivers are influenced by grain sizes and surrounding geological settings and Gwangju stream is connected to organic matters related to life fouls and so forth, with respect to the geochemical behaviorof bottom sediments. Li, Zn, Pb and Cu were enriched in Yeongsan and Hwangryong rivers and Li, Cu, Zn, Pb and P enriched in Gwangju stream, respectively. In the heavy metal contamination of above drainages, the site mutually connected Seobang(GJ 4) with Donggye(GJ 7) streams shows the highest values, in peculiar. It is inferred that those contamination values are mainly related with urban foul waters in the city.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.4B
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• pp.261-266
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• 2012

In this study, soil environmental impact assessment using risk-based approach was compared with that using concentration-based approach. For this, heavy metal contaminant exposure was characterized in an abandoned mine area. According to the estimated carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, soil ingestion was identified as the most dominant exposure pathway. When contaminant concentrations exceeded the Korean Soil Contamination Warning Standards, their corresponding risk values also exceeded the Total Soil Risk Standard. Even the cases of satisfying the Korean Soil Contamination Warning Standards mostly showed higher risk levels than the Total Soil Risk Standard, re-confirming a more sensitivity of the risk-based assessment than concentration-based assessment. However, the in-depth analysis of the estimated non-carcinogenic risk values revealed a few cases for soil contact pathway showing contaminant concentrations higher than the Korean Soil Contamination Warning Standards although their non-carcinogenic risk values satisfied the level of Hazard Index Standard. The findings from this study support a necessity of shifting policy paradigm from concentration-based approach into risk-based approach for reliable risk assessment in abandoned mine areas, and also suggest a necessity of further fundamental studies regarding risk factors and standards.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.129-135
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• 2000

Four types of land use were selected for sampling and study with different characteristics of heavy metal contamination during the period from August 1998 to June 2000. A series of studies have been carried out concerning the physicochemical characteristics of the sediments settling down in a gully pot to evaluate the contamination of Pb, Zn, Cd, Co, Cr and Cu. An examination of six elements indicated that Zn, Cu and Pb were the heavy metals severely impacted by anthropogenic input in Seoul. An assessment of 60 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban runoff and ground water was conducted based on samples collected from 31 sites and 12 wells, respectively, in Seoul City. The higher levels of alkyl benzenes in urban runoff indicated that Seoul areas were mainly contaminated through traffic sources.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.75-86
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• 2018

This study analyzed precipitation environment, heavy metal concentration, mineral composition, and spectral characteristics associated with heavy metal concentration and mineral composition for the reddish brown precipitates occurred in the drainage of Dogye mining station. The pH of the reddish brown precipitates ranges from 7.59 to 7.94 resulting neutral. XRF analysis reveals that the precipitates has high Fe concentration, and contaminated with Ni, Cu, and Zn. Dolomite, calcite, goethite, magnetite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite, quartz and aluminum isopropoxide were identified based on XRD analysis. As a result of spectral analysis associated with heavy metal contamination, visible reflectance increases and infrared reflectance decreases with a increase in heavy metal concentration. The spectral characteristics of the reddish brown precipitates is turned out to be manifested by goethite, magnetite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite and aluminum isopropoxide.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.24-27
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• 2005

This study has focused on investigation on As and heavy metal contamination derived from metalliferous mining activities in the Choongbuk Province in Korea. Soil, mine effluent, surface water and ground water samples were taken in and around 27 abandoned metal mines, and analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn using AAS and anions in water samples using IC. In general, the heavy metal concentrations in soils decreased with Increasing distance from the each mine audit. Tailings and mine waste soils from several mines contained over the guideline of Soil Conservation Act in Korea. Soil samples from the Seobo, Honga, Daehwa, Jeungjadong, Youngbo and Munbaek mines contained over the action levels of the metals due to intensive mining activities. Therefore, a proper remediation work needs to control the metal dispersion around the mines.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.479-488
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• 2004

Five sediment cores from the tidal flat of artificial Lake Shihwa are analyzed in terms of sedimentology and geochemistry to evaluate the heavy metal contamination and redox condition of surficial sediment following the Shihwa seawall construction. The variability of concentrations of various elements depends on the depositional environment, and reflects the various redox conditions and sediment provenances. The amounts of Ti and Al and their ratio of Ti/ Al with respect to Li clearly indicate that there is an anthropogenic contribution to the surficial sediment. The high concentrations of heavy metals suggest an anthropogenic contribution at ST. 34 and ST. 22. Concentrations of most elements (Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb) are higher near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex than in the central part of Lake Shihwa. Concentrations of heavy metal in surficial sediment near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex are two to eight times higher than in the center of Lake Shihwa. Enrichment factors (EF), which are normalized by the unpolluted shale, suggests a significant metallic contamination near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex (SBIC). The redox condition is divided into two anoxic and mixed oxi $c_oxic zones based on the carbon:sulfur (C/S) ratios of organic matter and elemental relationships. Correlations among geochemical elements Mn, U and Mo are significantly different from site to site, and may therefore be an indicator of the spatial redox condition. Controlling factors for switching anoxic/oxic conditions are thought to be water depth and the differences in industrial effluent supply. The variations of the Cu/Mn ratio in the sediments confirms above mentioned spatial differences of a redox condition in part, and therefore shows a location-dependence redox condition in sediments at four other sites. The redox condition of the surficial sediment characteristics of the Shihwa Lake are controlled by its geographic location and water depth.th.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.15-20
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• 2010

The contamination loadings generated in Changwon City are coming into Masan Bay through the Bongam tidal flat except the loadings collected and transferred by sewer lines to the wastewater treatment plant. The recovery of waterbirds, shellfishes, and fishes has been quite well recognized in recent years after the first implementation of Masan Bay TPLM (Total Pollution Loads Management) in Korea. This tidal flat has been conserved by the cooperation of several stakeholders and utilized as an ecosystem field site for in situ education. A large industrial complex has been operated since 1970's, therefore increasing the level of pollutants in estuary and costal sediments, especially by heavy metals. Zinc, copper, and lesd contamination of sediment was revealed at higher level by Clean-up guideline (MOMAF) or heavily polluted level by SQC (USEPA). There was a significant difference between two sites at the 95% confidence level, which implies no homogeneity in the processes of transport and deposition even at 500 m of distance. The heavy metal concentrations in the Bongam sediments have been gradually decreased with comparing the data of 2006, and 2009.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.1 s.22
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• pp.67-77
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• 2007

Objectives : Heavy metal contents in cultivated wild ginseng from Korea and China were evaluated for the safety purpose. Methods : Arsenic(As), cadmium(Cd), lead(Pb), mercury(Hg), copper(Cu), chromium(Cr), and selenium(Se) from the root, stem, and leaves of the Korean cultivated wild ginseng and the root of the Chinese cultivated wild ginseng were analyzed for the existence of heavy metal contents. Results : Most of heavy metals weren't detected in all the samples. Copper and lead were found in very minute volume and didn't reach the toxic concentration level of 10mg/kg. Samples used in the test were grown in non-contaminated areas, free from heavy metal contamination. Conclusions : Based on above results, cultivated wild ginseng from Korea and China are relatively safe from the heavy metal exposure. But for more rigorous quality control, an epidemiological survey using the samples from more diverse areas should be conducted.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.379-389
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• 2000

This study was focused on the investigation for the heavy metal contamination of soils derived from Yoecheon Industrial Complex in Chonnam Province. Total 201 soil samples including farmland, paddy, forest and playground soils were collected, extracted by 0.1N HCl and analyzed for Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn and Zn using AAS. Most pH values in soils were weak acidic ranges of 4-6, while some of them were over 8.0. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn in the soils tend to be relatively high around the Au-Ag mine area, railroad stations and oil station, however, those of Cr, Mn and Pb show high at the northside of Pohang Steel Co (POSCO). Cadmium-Zn couples, and Cd-Zn and Zn-Cr couples have relatively good correlations in the farmland soils and paddy soils, respectively. Concentrations of Cd, Fe and Zn with depth tend to be higher in the top soils than in the bottom soils, but those of Cu and Pb do not show regular variations with depth.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.869-883
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• 2019

China is currently facing great challenges in protecting its arable soil from contamination by heavy metals, especially Cd in paddy soil. China enacted the first soil environmental quality standards (SEQS) for ten pollutants in 1995, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the results of the first nationwide soil survey in 2014. The soil survey showed that as much as 16% of China's soil and 19% of the agricultural soils were contaminated mainly with heavy metals and metalloids beyond the environmental quality limits. The exceeded rate of the contaminant limits in food crops was widespread in China, and the most severe regions were East and Southwest China. Heavy metals and metalloids accounted for 82.4% of the contaminants in soils while organic pollutants accounted for 17% of the contaminants in the soil. Among the heavy metals and metalloids exceeding the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) limit, cadmium (Cd) was highest at 7.0%, followed by nickel (4.8%), arsenic (2.7%), cobalt (2.1%), mercury (1.6%) and lead (1.5%). However, all the average concentrations of the pollutants were lower than the recommended values for the contaminants except for Cd for three levels of pH (< 6.5, 6.5 - 7.5, and > 7.5). According to the Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution released by the State Council in 2016, 90% of contaminated farmland will be made safe by 2020 with an increase to 95% by 2030. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the soil quality to meet the environmental quality standard for soils and heavy metal standards for food safety.