• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.177-189
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• 2013

Studies were carried out on the speciation of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr) during rotary drum composting of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for a period of 20 days. Five different proportions of cattle manure, water hyacinth and sawdust were prepared for composting. This study concluded that, rotary drum was very efficient for the degradation of organic matter as well as for the reduction of mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals during water hyacinth composting. The results from the sequential extraction procedure of heavy metals shows that rotary drum composting changed the distribution of five fractions of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr. The highest reduction in the bioavailability factors of Pb and Cd was observed during the process. The total concentration of Cu, Cr, and Cd was very low compared to the other metals (Zn, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Pb); however, the percentage of exchangeable and carbonate fractions of these metals was similar to other metals. These results confirmed that the bioavailability of metals does not depend on the total concentration of metals. From this study, it can be concluded that the addition of an appropriate proportion of cattle manure significantly reduced the mobile and easily available fractions (exchangeable and carbonate fractions) during water hyacinth composting in rotary drum.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to investigate heavy metal speciation and bioavailability from soil to the edible parts of water dropwort near industrial complex. The soils and water dropwort were collected from the paddies cultivating water dropwort(10 sites), stream sediments(5 sites), and background soils(3 sites) near industrial complex. The total concentrations of Cd Cu, and Ni were higher than those of permissible level for soil contamination(Cd 3, Cu 100, Ni $50mg\;kg^{-1}$ in soil) suggested by Kloke(1979). Dominant chemical forms of Cd in paddies cultivating water dropwort and stream sediments were exchangeable form(49.1-56.3%), and those of Cu, Zn, and Ni were Fe and Mn oxide bound and residual forms. The mobility factor of heavy metals in paddies cultivating water dropwort and stream sediments was in the order Cd>Zn>Ni>Cu>Pb, specially, the mobility factor of Cd (62-72%) were relatively higher than that of other metals in soils. The total concentrations of Cd in soils showed significant positive correlation with the ratios of exchangeable and Fe and Mn oxide bound forms, while correlated negatively with residual form. Heavy metal contents in root parts were higher than those in top parts of water dropwort. The bioavailability of water dropwort varied considerably between the different parts and heavy metals. Cd, Cu and Ni contents in water dropwort were correlated with each fractions in soils. Specially, the exchangeable form of Cd and Ni in soils showed significant positive correlation with the those contents of water dropwort.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

As topographic characteristics of Korea where 64 % of the national land area is forest and only 17 % is being used as farmland, remediation of farmland contaminated by heavy metals is a considerably important issue. In this study, as an alternative of practically and effectively remediating farmland which was abandoned as its crop plants exceeded maximum residue limit of heavy metals due to mining impact, applicability of stabilization method was examined through the pilot-scale field experiment. Three plots ($L{\times}W{\times}D=3m{\times}2m{\times}0.3m$) were installed at the selected farmland and in plot 1, only soil of the selected farmland was applied, in pilot 2, soil of the selected farmland plus 3 % limestone (w/w) was applied and in pilot 3, soil of the selected farmland plus 3 % limestone was applied and then uncontaminated soil was covered thereon (0.3 m). After that, seeds of radish, Korean cabbage and soybean of which characteristics of edible portions are different were sowed on each plot and cultivated. Afterwards, at a proper harvesting time (app. 80 days later), crop plants and soil were collected and phytoavailability (0.11 M HOAc extractable) of heavy metals in soil and accumulated concentration of heavy metal in edible portion of crop plants were examined. As a result, it was revealed that phytoavailability of heavy metals in soil added with limestone (plot 2) was clearly reduced compared with plot 1 (untreated) and owing to this treatment, accumulated concentration of heavy metals in edible portion of crops was also clearly reduced compared with plot 1. While radish cultivated in plot 1 had exceeded maximum residue limit of agricultural products, in particular, plot 2 using limestone had shown concentration lower than maximum residue limit and this plot had shown little difference with 3 plot where crop was cultivated in uncontaminated soil cover. Therefore, it was considered that for abandoned farmland like the selected farmland, reducing mobility and phytoavailability of heavy metals and reducing crop uptake through stabilization method would be an effective and practical alternative for producing safe agricultural products on a sustained basis.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2023

Background: There is little information about the airborne hazardous agents released during the heat treatment when manufacturing a welding material. This study aimed to evaluate the airborne hazardous agents generated at welding material manufacturing sites through area sampling. Methods: concentration of airborne particles was measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer and optical particle sizer. Total suspended particles (TSP) and respirable dust samples were collected on polyvinyl chloride filters and weighed to measure the mass concentrations. Volatile organic compounds and heavy metals were analyzed using a gas chromatography mass spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, respectively. Results: The average mass concentration of TSP was 683.1±677.4 ㎍/m³, with respirable dust accounting for 38.6% of the TSP. The average concentration of the airborne particles less than 10 ㎛ in diameter was 11.2-22.8×10⁴ particles/cm³, and the average number of the particles with a diameter of 10-100 nm was approximately 78-86% of the total measured particles (<10 ㎛). In the case of volatile organic compounds, the heat treatment process concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) during combustion than during cooling. The airborne heavy metal concentrations differed depending on the materials used for heat treatment. The content of heavy metals in the airborne particles was approximately 32.6%. Conclusions: Nanoparticle exposure increased as the number of particles in the air around the heat treatment process increases, and the ratio of heavy metals in dust generated after the heat treatment process is high, which may adversely affect workers' health.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.87-103
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• 1996

The purposes of this research are to investigate the pollution level of heavy metals due to the urbanization and industrialization in the satellite cities of Seoul, and to assess the chemical species and the sources of heavy metals in highly contaminated soils and dusts. Soil and dust samples were collected from the Uijeongbu and the Koyang cities, which are northern and the northwestern satellite cities of Seoul metropolitan city, respectively. Relatively high pH values($6.3{\sim}9.9$) were found in roadside soils compared with agricultural and forest soils. Difference in pH values of soils was not identified between before and after rainy seasons. In spite of no specific pollution sources in the above cities, the contents of Cu, Pb, and Zn in soils and dusts were much higher than the world average contents. The metal levels in dusts were higher than those in soils, but the metal concentration in dusts was significantly decreased after rainy season. Pollution index was high(> 1.0) in the areas of heavy traffic, industrial complex, and city centres. There is an appreciable proportion of total Zn in exchangeable/water-acid soluble fraction. Copper is predominantly associated with reducible and oxidizable phases, whereas Pb is largely in reducible association. It is concluded that the mobility and bioavailability of metals are high in the order of Zn >> Cu > Pb, on the basis of characteristic particle morphology and chemical composition, Pb-containing particles are originated probably from the automobile exhaust, particularly in heavy traffic areas. The metallic forms and iron-oxide associated forms of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb can be assessed as industrial origin.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.220-230
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Excessive metals in the soil have become one of the most significant environmental problems. Phytoremediation has received considerable attention as a method for restoring the contaminated soils. The microbes having remarkable metal tolerance and plant growth-promoting abilities could also play a significant role in remediation of metal-contaminated soils, because bioaugmentation with such microbes could promote phytoextraction of metals. Therefore, the present study was focused on evaluating the phytoextraction of heavy metals (Co, Pb and Zn) in Helianthus annuus (sunflower) induced by bioaugmentation of a phosphate solubilizing bacterium. METHODS AND RESULTS: A phosphate solubilizing bacterium was isolated from metal-contaminated soils based on the greater halo size (>3 mm) with solid NBRIP agar medium containing 10 g glucose, 5 g $Ca_3(PO_4)_2$, 5 g $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O$, 0.25 g $MgSO_4.7H_2O$, 0.2 g KCl, 0.1 g $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ in 1 L distilled water. Isolated bacterial strain was assessed for their resistance to heavy metals; $CoCl_2.6H_2O$, $2PbCO_3.Pb(OH)_2$, and $ZnCl_2$ at various concentrations ranging from $100-400{\mu}g/mL$ (Co, Pb and Zn) using the agar dilution method. A pot experiment was conducted with aqueous solutions of different heavy metals (Co, Pb and Zn) to assess the effect of bacterial strain on growth and metal uptake by Helianthus annuus (sunflower). The impact of bacterial inoculation on the mobility of metals in soil was investigated under laboratory conditions with 50 mL scaled polypropylene centrifuge tubes. The metal contents in the filtrate of plant extracts were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkinelmer, Aanalyst 800, USA). CONCLUSION: Inoculation with Enterobacter ludwigii PSB 28 resulted in increased shoot and root biomass and enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb and Zn in Helianthus annuus plants. The strain was found to be capable of promoting metal translocation from the roots to the shoots of H. annuus. Therefore, Enterobacter ludwigii PSB 28 could be identified as an effective promoter of phytoextraction of Co, Pb and Zn from metal-contaminated soils.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.93-108
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• 2013

This study is aimed to prepare the effective detail survey methods(Phase II) of abandoned metal mines through the contamination assessment for mine types and facilities in the abandoned metal mine areas. The study sites of 12 abandoned mines are located in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do and those were chosen among 310 sites that the Phase II survey was conducted from 2007 to 2009 after considering the results of Phase I for abandoned mines scattered all over the country. 12 study sites were classified into four types; Type I sites only have pit mouth. Type II sites have pit mouth and mine-waste field. Type III sites have pit mouth and tailing sorting field. Type IV sites have pit mouth, tailing sorting field and concentrator(s). In forest land, paddy soil and farm land of Type I, As and Cd were showed average concentration, and Cu and Pb were high on the pit mouth area in one mines where the pit mouth was developed within 500 m. In the mines of Type II, Cu and Pb were showed average concentration too, but As and Cd were slightly high in pit mouth and mine-waste field. The mines of Type III which had grinding particle process through physical separation milling or hitting showed similar tendency with Type II. However, mines of Type IV pit mouth, mine-waste field and showed various results depending on defining the contamination sources. For example, if contamination source was pit mouth, the mixed results of Type I, II, II were showed. In tailing sorting field which was regarded as the most important source and having high mobility, however, if there were no facilities or it was difficult to access directly, field sampling was missed occasionally during phase I and phase II survey. For that reason, the assessment for tailing sorting field is missed and it leads to completely different results. In the areas of Type I mines, the concentration of heavy metals exceeded precautionary standards of soil contamination or not within 1,000 meters of pit mouth. Nickel(Ni) was the largest factor of the heavy metal contamination in this type. The heavy metals except Arsenic(As) were shown high levels of concentration in Type II areas, where pit mouth and mine-waste field were operated for making powder in upriver region; therefore, to the areas in the vicinity of midstream and downstream, the high content of heavy metals were shown. The tendency of high level of heavy metals and toxic materials contained in flotation agent used during sorting process were found in soil around sorting and tailing field. In the abandoned-pit-mouth area, drygrinding area and tailing sorting field area, the content of Cupper(Cu) and Zinc(Zn) were higher than other areas. Also, the contaminated area were larger than mine reclamation area(2,000 m) and the location of tailing sorting field was one of the important factors to estimate contaminated area.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.29-38
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• 2016

There have been only a few studies focused on the stabilization of metal (loid)s in anaerobic soils such as paddy soils. In this study, laboratory-scale column tests were conducted to artificially manipulate anoxic conditions in submerged paddy fields and we observed the release behavior of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn, as well as to examine the stabilization effect of steel refining slag (SRS) on the metal(loid)s. The leachate samples were collected and chemical parameters were monitored during the test period. Results suggest that anoxic conditions were developed during submersion, and that As or heavy metals (particularly Cd) fractions bound to ferrous (Fe) /manganese (Mn) oxides were easily dissociated. Moreover, As is also reduced by itself to a trivalent form with higher mobility in the reducing environment of rice paddy soil. However, it was also shown that SRS significantly decreased the dissolution of Zn, Pb, Cd, and As in the the leachates; their removal rates in the SRS-treated soil were 66 %, 45 %, 24 %, and 84 %, respectively, of those in the control soil.

• Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology : HEB
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.775-786
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• 2018

To test the hypothesis that humic acid (HA), anaerobically digested pig slurry filtrate (APS), and their combination would differently affect the chemical speciation and extractability of metals (cadmium, copper, and zinc) and their uptake by plants, we conducted a pot experiment using wormwood in two texturally contrasting soils (sandy loam and clay loam) collected from a field near an abandoned Cu mine. Four treatments were laid out: HA at $ 23.5g\;kg^{-1}$ (HA), APS at $330mL\;kg^{-1}$ (APS), HA at $ 23.5g\;kg^{-1}$ and APS at $330mL\;kg^{-1}$ (HA + APS), and a control. Each treatment affected the chemical speciation and mobility of the metals, and thereby resulting in variable patterns of plant biomass yield and metal uptake. The APS supported plant growth by increasing nutrient availability. HA supported or hindered plant growth by impacting the soil's water and nutrient retention capacity and aeration, in a soil texture-dependent manner, while consistently enhancing the immobilization of heavy metals. Temporal increases in whole-plant dry matter yield and metal accumulation suggested that the plants were capable of metal hyperaccumulation. The results were discussed in terms of the mobility of metals and plant growth and corroborated by the $^{15}N$ recovery of soil- and plant-N pools under H and HS treatments. Therefore, for effective phytoremediation of polluted soils, an appropriate combination of plant growth promoters (APS) and chelating agents (HA) should be predetermined at the site where chemical stabilization of pollutants is desired.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Heavy metal adsorptionnot only depends on biochar characteristics but also on the nature of the metals involved and on their competitive behavior for biochar adsorption sites. The goal of this study was to investigate the competitive absorption characteristics of Cu and Cd in mono-metal and binary-metal forms by biochar derived from Phragmites communis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Batch and column experiments were conducted to evaluate the competitive adsorption characteristics of the biocharfor Cu and Cd. In the batch experiments, the maximum adsorption capacity of Cd(63 mg/g) by biochar was higher than that for Cu (55 mg/g) in the mono-metal adsorption isotherm. On the other hand, the maximum Cu adsorption capacity (40 mg/g) by biochar was higher than that for Cd(25 mg/g) in the binary-metal adsorption isotherm. Cu was the most retained cations. Cd could be easily exchanged and substituted by Cu. The amounts of adsorbed metals in the column experiments were in the order of Cd (121 mg/g) > Cu (96 mg/g) in mono-metal conditions, and Cu (72 mg/g) > Cd (29 mg/g) in binary-metal conditions. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results demonstrated that competitive adsorption among metals increased the mobility of these metals. Particularly, Cd in binary-metal conditions lost its adsorption capacity most significantly.