Goo-Bok Jung

Current research trends for heavy metals of agricultural soils and crop uptake in Korea

BACKGROUND: Increase of heavy metals in agricultural ecosystem has become a social issue nationwide as it is related to public health. This review was performed to find out more systematic and integrated future researches on heavy metals using up to date articles published in the Korean journals related to agricultural environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Researches on heavy metals in agricultural soils and plant uptake were categorized by the establishment of criteria, analytical methods, monitoring, management of source, characteristics and behavior in soil, plant uptake, bioavailability affecting physico -chemical properties in soil, risk assessment and soil remediation. In the early 1990s, the monitoring for heavy metals in soil has been widely performed. Accumulation of heavy metals in contaminated soil and availability to plants has also attracted interests to study the soil remediation using various physico-chemical methods. The phytoavailability and phytotoxicity of heavy metals have been mainly studied to assess the safety of agro-products using risk assessment techniques in the 2000s. CONCLUSION: Future direction of research on heavy metal in agricultural environment must be carried out by ensuring food safety and sustainability. A steady survey and proper management for polluted regions should be continued. Law and regulation must be modified systematically. Furthermore, studies should expand on mitigation of heavy metal uptake by crops and remediation of polluted fields.

Characteristics of Heavy Metal Contamination in Residual Mine Tailings Near Abandoned Metalliferous Mines in Korea

Most of the tailings have been left without any management in abandoned metalliferous mines and have become the main source of heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils and crops in the these areas. To compare of environmental assessment of heavy metals in tailings derived from various 25-metalliferous mines in Korea, 3 different analysis methods such as water soluble, 0.1 M-HCl extractable, and total acid digestion method (aqua regia) were used. The chemical composition of water soluble in mine tailing were in the order

Phytoplankton Flora and Community Structure in the Lower Nakdong River

{SO_4}^{2-}>Ca^{2+}>Mn^{2+},\;Na^+,\;Al^{3+}>Mg^{2+},\;Fe^{3+}>Cl^-

Small-Scale Pond Effects on Reducing Pollutants Load from a Paddy Field

. Specially, pH, EC, concentrations in tailing varied considerably among the different mines. The average total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As in tailing were 31.8, 708, 4,961, 2,275 and 3,235 mg/kg, respectively. Specially, the contents of Cd, Zn and As were higher than those of countermeasure values for soil contamination (Cd : 4, Zn : 700 and As : 15 mg/kg in soil) by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. The rates of water soluble heavy metals to total contents in tailings were in the order Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb > As. The rates of 0.1M-HCl extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As (1M-HCl) to total content were 17.4, 10.2, 6.5, 6.8 and 11.4% respectively. The enrichment factor of heavy metals in tailings were in the order As > Pb > Cd > Cu > Zn. The pollution index in tailing Au-Ag mine tailing were higher than those of other mine tailing. As a results of enrichment factor and pollution index for heavy metal contaminations in mine tailing of metalliferous mines, the main contaminants are mine waste materials including tailings.

Contamination Assessment of Water Quality and Stream Sediments Affected by Mine Drainage in the Sambo Mine Creek

This study was focused on the investigation of the phytoplankton flora and community structure for changing of water environment at the rivers in the lower part of Nakdong river, The samples for this study were collected every month from Jan. 2004 To Dec. 2004. the 196 species belonged to 94 genera were identified during this study periods. The number of species was recorded the maximum 124 taxa in summer and the minimum 69 taxa in winter, We observed the maximum taxa (92 taxa) at the site No. 20 and the minimum taxa (55 taxa) at the site No. 8, respectively. Among the phytoplankton communities, diatoms were dominated over 40% of total phytoplankton groups. Subdominant groups were green algae (over 20% of total phytplankton groups). During this study periods, the 60 species were investigated ecologically significant species (46 cosmopolitic species, 25 pollution indicator, 21 redtide causative species, 8 dominant species, and 7 frequently occurred species). According to the cluster analysis by similarity index, the study sites could be divided into 4 groups.

Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metal by Long-Term Cultivation

BACKGROUND: Water-born pollution loads by agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution are expected to become intensified due to ongoing precipitation change. Therefore, it is essential to develop a best management practice (BMP) that is suitable to agricultural environments in Korea. This study aimed to develop an environmental-friendly BMP to reduce NPS pollution load by agricultural activities. An eco-friendly way, small drainage pond, was suggested in this study to avoid direct drainage of agricultural runoffs and eventually reduce the amount of pollutants discharged into the surrounding aqua-environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: A small pond (12 m 2 ) was constructed at the corner of a rice paddy field (1,715 m 2 ) located in Suwon, Korea. Water was allowed to drain only via a small drainage pond. Sampling was repeatedly made at two locations, one from an entrance and the other from an exit of a pond, during the rice cultivation period (May to

Availability of Heavy Metals in Soils with Different Characteristics and Controversial Points for Analytical Methods of Soil Contamination in Korea

BACKGROUND: Mine drainage from metal mining districts is a well-recognized source of environmental contamination. Oxidation of metal sulfides in mines, mine dumps and tailing impoundments produces acidic, metal-rich waters that can contaminate the local surface water and soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: This experiment was carried out to investigate the pollution assessment of heavy metal on the water quality of mine drainage, paddy soils and sediment in lower watershed affected by mine drainage of the Sambo mine. The average concentrations of dissolved Cd (0.018∼0.035 mg/L) in mine drainage discharged from the main waste rock dumps(WRD) was higher than the water quality standards (0.01 mg/L) for agricultural water in Korea. Also, the average concentrations of dissolved Zn, Fe and Mn were higher than those of recommended maximum concentrations (Zn 2.0, Fe 5.0, Mn 0.2 mg/L) of trace metal in irrigation water proposed by FAO (1994). The average contents of Pb and Zn in paddy soils was higher than those of standard level for soil contamination(Pb 200, Zn 300 mg/kg) in agricultural soil by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. Also, the concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn in sediment were higher than those of standard level for soil contamination (Cd 10, Pb 400, Zn 600 mg/L) in waterway soil by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. The enrichment factor (EFc) of heavy metals in stream sediments were in the order as Cd>Pb>Zn> As>Cu>Cr>Ni. Also, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) of heavy metals in stream sediments were in the order as Zn>Cd>Pb>Cu>As>Cr>Ni, specially, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) of Zn (Igeo 3.1∼6.2) were relatively higher than that of other metals in sediment. CONCLUSION(s): The results indicate that stream water and sediment were affected by mine drainage discharged from the Sambo mine at least to a distance of 1 km downstream (SN-1, SN-2) of the mine water discharge point.

Evaluation of Water Quality Characteristics on Tributaries of Mankyeong River Watershed

In order to select proper plants for phytoremediation at heavy metal contaminated areas, eight species of non-edible plants were cultivated at the heavy metal contaminated soils near a metal smelter. The content of the absorbed heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and As) at different part of the plants were analyzed. Plants included five tree species (Populus nigra x P. maximowiczii, Euonymus japonica, Acer palmantum, Celtis sinensis, Buxus microphylla), two flower species (Rhododendron lateritium, Calendula officinalis), and lawn (Zoysia japonica). Biomass yield of tree species was higher than those of flower or lawn species. Heavy metals were highly accumulated in roots compared to those In leaves and stems. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and As in Buxus microphylla were greater than those in other plant species. Total absorbed Cd and Pb contents, from high to low by each plant in experimental plots were in the order of Populus nigra x P. maximowiczii, Celtis sinensis and Acer palmantum. They were Celtis sinensis, Populus nigra x P. maximowiczii and Buxus microphylla for Cu, and Buxus microphylla, Acer palmantum and Populus nigra x P. maimowiczii for As. It was estimated that among eight plant species used in the experiment Populus nigra x P. maximowiczii, Buxus microphylla, Acer palmantum, and Celtis sinensis were the most effective species for phytoremediation in the heavy metals polluted areas considering biomass yield and heavy metal uptake.

Minimizing Nutrient Loading from SCB Treated Paddy Rice Fields through Water Management

This experiment was conducted to investigate available extraction capacity and potential mobility of heavy metal according to the distribution property and contamination level of heavy metals in soils and to suggest a reform measure of soil environment assessment methodology applied with soil quality and the official soil heavy metal test methods in domestic and foreign countries. The soils were collected from the natural forest paddy with long-term application of same type fertilizer, and paddies near metal mine and industrial complex. The post-treatment methods of soil were partial extraction, acid digestion and sequential extraction methods. For the heavy metal contents with different soil properties, it was shown that their natural forest and paddy soil were slightly low and similar to the general paddy soil, while their paddies near metal mine and industrial complex were higher than the standard level of Soil Environment Protection Act. Heavy metal concentrations in the soils with different soil properties had difference between extractant by US-EPA 3051a method. There were highly significant positive relationships in both two methods. It was appeared that the higher extractable concentration ratio with 0.1N-HCl to total heavy metal content with extractant the greater total heavy metal content. There were highly significant positive correlationship between total heavy metal content and extractable content with 0.1N-HCl. For extractable capacity of soil extractable solution compared to the total heavy metal content it was appeared that it extractable method with 0.1N-HCl was higher than those with EDTA and DTPA. In extractable ratio with 0.1N-HCl in the contaminated paddy soils near mine and industrial complex, it was shown that the lower soil pH, the higher total heavy metal content. The order of a potential mobility coefficient by distribution of heavy metal content with ie different typies in the soil was Cd>Ni>Zn>Cu>Pb. It could be known that contamination characteristics of heavy metals with different types of soils were affected by different heavy metal components, contamination degree and soil chemical properties, and heavy metal concentration with different extractable methods had great variations with adjacent environment. To be compared with assessment methodology of soil environment impact at domestic and foreign countries with our results, it might be considered that there was necessary to make a single analysis method based on total heavy metal content with environmental overloading concept because of various analysis methods for total heavy metal content and present analysis method with great variation according to soil environment. In spite of showing higher concentration of heavy metal with acidic digestion than the extractable method, it might be considered that there is need to be adjusted the national standard of soil heavy metal contamination.

Monitoring and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Edible Mushrooms

Irrigation water quality along Donjin river watershed was monitored to find a possible pollutant, for maintaining water quality to achieve food safety through water quality preservation of river. As a pollution indicators, such as Biological Oxygen Demand(BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD), Total Nitrogen(T-N), and Total Phosphate(T-P) in Dongjin river were examined from May to November in 2001. The results were as follows : The BOD level of Dongjin river ranged from 2.84 to 6.45 mg/L, which would be in a IIIV grade of the potable water criteria by Ministry of Environment. Averaged BOD level of downstream DJ6(After Jeongupcheon confluence) was 4.07 mg/L. The average COD level of Dongjin river ranged from 11.20 to 32.96 mg/L. COD level of DJ6 rapidly increased rapidly after the junction of Dongjin river and Jungupcheon because it showed the latter had relatively high pollution level. T-N content were significantly high in all sites of Dongjin river ranged through 4.16 to 5.84 mg/L. T-P examined high concentration than another thing point by 0.19 mg/L after Jeongupcheon confluence as BOD and COD. COD of main stream was expressed high concentration to dry season after rainy season. In case of T-P, pollution degree of dry season before rainy season appeared and examined that quality of water was worsened go by dry season after rainy season. The water quality of Dongjin river was deteriorated with inflow of Jungupcheon polluted by municipal and industrial sites near Jungup city.