• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.753-758
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• 2007

To assess the safety of solar salts of Jeollanamdo province where most of Korean solar salts are produced, 433 samples of solar salts in total were collected and analyzed for their contents of sodium chloride and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury). Sodium chloride contents ranged from 80 to 85% in 63% of solar salts analyzed. Lead was not detected in 77% of solar salt samples and showed a value of below the maximum permissible limit (2 ppm) in other samples. Cadmium was not detected in most samples (78%), and the other samples where cadmium was detected showed a value far below the maximum permissible limit (0.5 ppm) except for three ones. Arsenic was detected in only four samples, but their concentrations were far below the permissible limit (0.1 ppm). Mercury was not detected in all samples. There were some differences between producing areas in the levels of sodium chloride and lead of solar salts, but the contents of cadmium, arsenic and mercury did not show significant regional differences. These results clearly indicate that solar salts produced from Jeollanamdo province are safe in the aspects of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury contents.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

The research centers on the concentration profile and risk assessment of toxic metals for ambient air in Taejon industrial complex. Airborne concentrations of each toxic metal for risk assessment were obtained from 2-year sampling by high volume air sampler and analysis by ICP-MS and ICP-AES in the complex. The long-term arithmetic mean of human carcinogen, arsenic, hexavalent chromium and nickel subsulfide was 5.53, 2.16 and $3.46ng/m^3$ while the mean of probable human carcinogen, beryllium, cadmium and lead was 0.08, 2.35, $293.29ng/m^3$, respectively. And the long-term arithmetic mean concentration of non-carcinogenic metal, manganese was $55.91ng/m^3$. The point risk estimate for the inhalation of carcinogenic metals was $3.6{\times}10^{-5}$, which was higher than a risk standard of $10^{-5}$. About 75% of the cancer risk was to the inhalation of human carcinogen, arsenic. Thus, it is necessary to properly manage arsenic risk in Taejon industrial complex. The point hazard index by the inhalation of manganese was 1.1. Therefore, an investigation into Taejon industrial complex is needed to obtain more fine long-term concentration data for airborne non-carcinogenic metals including manganese.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals contamination of soils in the vicinity of abandoned mines in South Korea has been investigated. However, PAHs contamination rarely has been studied. Both heavy metals and PAHs concentrations have been measured in this study. METHODS AND RESULTS: The samples of soil and sediment were collected from the vicinities of three abandoned coal mines and two abandoned metal mines for analysis of heavy metals contaminants and PAHs concentration from April to September 2012. After preparation of these samples following the Korean standard test method for soils, the concentrations of heavy metals contaminants and PAHs were measured using ICP-OES and GC-MS, respectively. It was observed that the concentration of Arsenic was above the concern level based on 'area 1' suggested by Korean soil conservation law, resulting that Arsenic is the main contaminant in these areas. Also Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were observed as a partial contaminants. The concentrations of other investigated components including benzo(a)pyrene were less than the concern level. CONCLUSION: The correlation observed between Arsenic (as main contaminant) and PAHs concentrations suggested that the contaminant source and pathway are different for each other. The effect of mine activity on PAHs concentration was rarely observed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.484-488
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• 1993

The heavy metal contents in Carassius auratus, that were sampled from Nov.1 to Nov. 31, 1991 at 6 areas in Joenlabuk-do. The mercury contents was determined by mercury analyzer using the combustion Goldamal-gamation method. The arsenic contents were determined by spectrophotometry using silver diethyl ditiho carbamate method. The contents of other heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma spectrometer method. The levels of total mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead, cupper, manganes, and zinc were determined and the results were summarized as follows : The 6 areas over all range(ppm) were Hg : 0.0167~0.0407, As : N.D.~0.0018, Cd : 0.1256~0.1935, Pb : 0.3536~0.6593, Cu : 0.2094~0.3792, Mn : 2.9059~6.9335, Zn : 14.3095~48.1615ppm. Among the seven heavy metals contents, the higest was zinc and the lowest was arsenic. The results show that contents of Hg As, Cd, Pb, Mn and Zn in Carassius auratus were lower than the FAO/WHO maximum allowance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.1647-1654
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• 2008

The characteristics of arsenic(As) contamination were investigated on soils of 3 abandoned metal mine sites in Gangwon-do, Korea. Total forty nine soils were sampled to conduct standard methods(extraction by 1HCl), sequential extraction and column leaching test. Concentration of As extracted by 1N HCl was ordered as follows: A mine > B mine > C mine, and the concentration of arsenic in the soils of A mine was significantly greater than that at any other cases and all samples of A mine were exceeded the national regulation of $6mg \;kg^{-1}$. In the results of sequential extraction, the potential contamination risk for groundwater and plants was ordered as follows: C mine > B mine > A mine because the C mine showed the relatively greater mobility and bioavailability of fraction than any other mines. And, in colume test, concentration of As was ordered as follows: C mine > B mine > A mine, and it was expected that these results were connected with fraction characteristics of the mine sites. Therefore adequate leaching investigations should be used to simulate the effect of natural leaching conditions, and to predict both the potential mobility of metals to groundwater and their bioavailability to plants under natural conditions.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

This study explored secondary effects of the residual hydrofluoric acid (HF) after a hypothetical acid spill accident by investigating the long-term dissolution of minerals and leaching of pre-existing arsenic (As) from two soil samples (i.e., KBS and KBM) through batch and column experiments. An increase in the HF concentration in both soil samples resulted in a dramatic increase in the release of major cations, especially Si. However, the amounts of mineral dissolved were dependent on the soil type and mineral characteristics. Compared to the KBM soil, relatively more Ca, Mg and Si were dissolved from the KBS soil. The column experiment showed that the long-term dissolution rates of the minerals are closely associated with the acid buffering capacity of the two soils. The KBM soil had relatively higher effluent pH values compared to the KBS soil. Also, more As was leached from the KBM soil, with a more amorphous hydrous oxide-bound As fraction. These results suggest that the potential of heavy metal leaching by the residual acid after an acid spill will be influenced by heavy metal speciation and mineral structure in the affected soil.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of the leaching of metal components from CCA-treated wood during outdoor exposure. CCA-treated wood specimens were placed horizontally or buried vertically into the soil, and then exposed to the natural environment for a year. Wood samples were collected from the side of the horizontal wood specimens using a drill and saw dust samples were collected at the end of the exposure. Soil samples were also obtained around the wood specimens and at different depths of the posts. Wood and soil samples were analyzed for metals using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Monthly metal concentrations varied greatly and more metals were released when wood specimens were exposed vertically than horizontally. Arsenic was released from the wood by 80 % of the intial content. In addition, more leaching was observed from the zone below the ground than above the ground, and soil around the posts was contaminated with metals released from CCA-treated wood.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.16-22
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• 2010

Heavy metals in soils exist in various forms dependent upon surrounding conditions. As the Janghang smelter area is of concern for its high elevated heavy metal concentrations, Korean government decided to remediate the area. Main objectives of this research were; to analyze heavy metal concentrations and their existing forms in the vicinity of the smelter; and to understand differences made by analysis techniques of heavy metals. Top soils of rice field, crop field, bare field, and forestry in the area were sampled and analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, and As were analyzed with two pretreatment techniques adopted using 0.1 N HCl and aqua regia. To analyze existing forms of heavy metals, Tessier's schemes for sequential extraction technique were adopted. Exchangeable fraction and carbonate bound fraction of heavy metals may pose potential threat to environment and were in the order of Pb > As > Cu > Cd. If assessing mobile fraction of heavy metals by land uses, the order was forestry > bare land > crop field > rice field. When analyzed using Tessier's scheme, high ratio of residual fractions to total arsenic concentration should be considered for remediation design of the area.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.58-64
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• 2013

This study proposed a low temperature hydrothermal carbonization to treat and recycle sewage sludge and determined the optimal conditions for the biochar production. The physical and chemical properties of biochar were analyzed and its sorption capacity for heavy metals was evaluated. To produce biochar, 50 g of sewage sludge was heated at 220, 230, and $240^{\circ}C$ for 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 10 hours in a reactor. The optimal conditions to produce biochar was $230^{\circ}C$ and 8 hours. Sorption capacity tests were conducted for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni). Among them, lead was shown the highest heavy metal adsorption efficiency of biochar, followed by copper, cadmium, zinc, and nickel, but arsenic was hardly adsorbed overall.

• 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.