• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.501-504
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• 2003

Sulfur isotope composition was used to identify the sources of groundwater contamination near abandonded coal mines. From the analysis of mine adit drainages, tailing seepages, and spring waters near the abandonded Hambaek and Hanchang coal mines in Kangwon Province, it was inferred that it the highly possible source of the contamination of spring water is acid mine drainage(AMD). Sulfur isotope composition showed that seepage from tailings seemed to have more effect on the groundwater contamination than mine adit drainage, which suggests the remediation and anti-contamination methods of tailing seepages not only mine adit drainage are required.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.63-66
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• 2003

This study applied a hydrogeological field survey and isotope investigation to identify source locations and delineate pathways of groundwater contamination by nitrogen compounds. The infiltration and recharge processes were analyzed with groundwater-level fluctuation data and oxygen-hydrogen stable isotope data. The groundwater flow pattern was investigated through groundwater flow modeling and spatial and temporal variation of oxygen isotope data. Based on the flow analysis and nitrogen isotope data, source types of nitrate contamination in groundwater are identified. Groundwater recharge largely occurs in spring and summer due to precipitation or irrigation water in rice fields. Based on oxygen isotope data and cross-correlation between precipitation and groundwater level changes, groundwater recharge was found to be mainly caused by irrigation in spring and by precipitation at other times. The groundwater flow velocity calculated by a time series of spatial correlations, 231 m/yr, is in good accordance with the linear velocity estimated from hydrogeologic data. Nitrate contamination sources are natural and fertilized soils as non-point sources, and septic and animal wastes as point sources. Seasonal loading and spatial distribution of nitrate sources are estimated by using oxygen and nitrogen isotopic data.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.424-427
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• 2006

Soil contamination with petroleum oil around a military army was investigated. It showed that soils of a riverside highland, an entrance of the military army, and nearby roads were contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) released from the military army to the depth of approximately 2 m. The measured concentrations were as high as 15,277 mg/kg. A wide range of soil in the riverside highland was contaminated by the movement of oil to the surface soil, which occurred with the vertical movement of groundwater table caused by the change of river water level and groundwater level. Spilled petroleum oil components were released into Wonju Stream by the increase of hydraulic conductivity and the groundwater flow.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.459-462
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• 2004

This study assesses groundwater vulnerability to contaminants in 12 administrative districts of the city of Changwon, using DRASTIC technique. DRASTIC was originally applied to situations in which the contamination sources are at the ground surface, and the contaminants flow into the groundwater with infiltration of rainfall. However, groundwater contamination in urban areas can also be related to excessive pumping resulting in a lowering of the water level. The correlation coefficient between minimum DRASTIC indices and the degree of poor water quality for 10 districts is low as 0.40. The correlation coefficients between minimum DRASTIC indices and the groundwater discharge rate, and between minimum DRASTIC indices and well density per unit area are 0.70 and 0.87, respectively. Thus, to evaluate the potential of groundwater contamination in urban areas, it is necessary to consider other factors such as groundwater withdrawal rate and well density per unit area with ratings and weights as well as the existing six DRASTIC factors.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.115-124
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• 2004

To utilize a closed municipal solid waste landfill site in environmentally secure conditions, it is necessary to verify the stabilization level of landfill leachate. To assess leachate stabilization of an open-dumping municipal solid waste landfill (Noeun Landfill) which is located at the upper drainage basin of Namhan River which flows into Lake Paldang utilized for Seoul Metropolitan water supplies, the surrounding characteristics of the landfill site was surveyed. After then, leachate, groundwater and soil samples from this landfill were chemically analyzed, and the analysis results were evaluated by "The Criteria of Landfill Waste Stabilization(CLWS)", "Discharge Criteria of Landfill Leachate", "The Criteria of Domestic Use in Groundwater Quality", and "Soil Contamination Criteria" promulgated by Korean Ministry of Environment. The closed open-dumping landfill was equipped with the final soil cover, 3 groundwater monitoring wells and poor landfill gas extraction devices for the post-closure management of the landfill. BOD/CODcr ratios in leachate were less than or slightly higher than 1/10. This results seemed to imply that the leachate stabilization level of this landfill based on the CLWS was almost completed. Qualities of groundwater sampled from monitoring wells located at outside of landfill were adequate for "The Criteria of Domestic Use in Groundwater Quality". Finally, concentrations of soil contaminants that were likely to be influenced by this landfill site were adequate to "Soil Contamination Criteria".

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.209-212
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• 2004

Soil environment has not received much attention from the environmental impact assessor community although soil contamination may affect human health and the eco-system. This study was the first trial to discuss the role and importance of soil environment in the environmental impact assessment(EIA) and suggest possible environmental impact assessment schemes for soil. The objectives of the study were to show the effects of soil contamination on human health, the environment and the social community, suggest efficient EIA schemes in Korea and establish the basic concepts of soil environment assessment involving fate and transport of contaminants and its risk.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2009

Susceptibility assessment of groundwater contamination is a useful tool for many aspects of regional and local groundwater resources planning and management. It can be used to direct regulatory, monitoring, educational, and policy-making efforts to highly vulnerable areas. In this study, a semi process-based was proposed to evaluate relative susceptibilities to groundwater contamination by nitrate on a regional scale. Numerical simulation based on data from each soil series was done to model water flow within soil profiles that were related to groundwater contamination by nitrate. Relative vulnerability indices for each soil series were produced by manipulation of amount of leaching flux, amount of average water storage in a soil profile, and amount of average water storage change. These indices were designed to convey the trend of leaching flux and to maximize spatial resolution. The resulting vulnerability distribution map was used to locate highly vulnerable sites easily with an appropriate grouping the indices, and was then compared with those from groundwater nitrate concentrations monitored. An excellent agreement was obtained across nitrate concentrations from the highly vulnerable regions and those from the low to stable regions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.189-194
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• 1998

Geochemical study was carried out to find out the distribution of metals and cyanide in soil in the vicinity of the abandoned Keum-Jung mine. Chemical analysis showed that content of As in soil around tailings exceeded 15mg/kg, Korean standard of soil contamination in the farm land. That means the contamination of soil by As is due to input of tailings. According to total decomposition of tailings, As was highly concentrated in tailings. However the water in tailings impoundment was changed to acidic and contaminated by metal and sulfate because the tailings in the top of the tailings impoundment had been oxidized. Acid mine drainage contaminated the water course in the vicinity of the paddy soils. The proper measures are required to prevent contamination of the soil and water in the vicinity of the Keum-Jung mine.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.9-12
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• 2001

MTBE is a gasoline additive which is widely used in the world. Its use on the air pollution reduction has been proved very effective, but has generated serious problems of groundwater contamination. Its use will be banned gradually by US EPA and other states governments in US. In Korea, it has been used since 1987 and its consumption reaches about 700, 000 tons/year. Any problems related to the groundwater contamination has not been reported in Korea, yet due to the lack of investigation. In this presentation, I raise the MTBE problems with examples of MTBE contaminations in the US.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.58-63
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• 2016

The study examined the level of heavy metal contamination by dividing military rifle shooting ranges into the three areas, i.e firing, trajectory, and target. The target area was found to be contaminated at a level higher (Cu 845 mg/kg, Pb 30,487 mg/kg) than the Worrisome Level of Soil Contamination (hereinafter referred to as the “Worrisome Level”) The trajectory area was predicted to be free from contamination, but it did indicate contamination although it was pretty much lower (Cu 23 mg/kg, Pb 99 mg/kg) than Worrisome Level. This is attributed to the contamination spread when rearranging the soil of the target area during the maintenance of the shooting range. The firing area was also predicted to be free from heavy metal contamination, but the results analyzed indicated a contamination higher (Cu 201 mg/kg, Pb 2,286 mg/kg) than Worrisome Level. This is attributed to the fragments of the broken bullet scattering due to the pressure generated as the bullet leaves the muzzle. An examination of heavy metal contamination in the discharge area as well as gutters to prevent the intrusion of rain water from perimeter revealed a high level of contamination (Cu 298 mg/kg, Pb 6,497 mg/kg), which makes it necessary to take measures.