Distinct Dispersion of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in Farmland Soils near Abandoned Mine Tailings: Field Observation Results in South Korea

Abstract

We investigated the characteristics of metal(loid) transport and dispersion in agricultural soils near an abandoned metal mine. Topsoil samples were collected from 162 sampling sites in the study area, including 1 in the mine tailing dumps, to analyze the total concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, and Zn. Subsequently, the metal(loid) transport and dispersion characteristics were investigated using geographic information system (GIS) technology. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the variation in the dispersal of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn from the mine tailing dumps to nearby agricultural soils and the element-specific spatial variability in their respective transport and dispersion characteristics. These findings suggested that compared with the migration behavior of Cd, Pb, and Zn, that of As has a farther-reaching impact on agricultural soils owing to its geochemical cycling in the soil and groundwater environment. This impact differed significantly in magnitude from that of the other investigated metals. Therefore, special consideration must be given to the migration behavior of As.

Trace Metals Assessment in Soils and Sediments near the Abandoned Mine of “El Abed” Pb-Zn deposit – Northwestern Algeria

“…In particular, the total concentration of Pb was found to be more than 250 times the national limit of 200 mg/kg. (Yun et al, 2020).The same study was carried out in the wetlands Liupanshui Minghu which is an industrial and mining area, by measuring the concentrations of heavy metals lead(Pb), zinc(Zn),copper(Cu) in surface deposits, and the results of the average concentrations were (197), ( 222), (59,1), (68, 6), (4,67) mg/kg, respectively, it is an area of environmental risk. (Yu et al, 2021).There is a study on the concentrations of abandoned mine tailings, in 2006 in the region of High Moulaya, which is the region of the mining industry in eastern Morocco.…”

Necessity of Assessing Biological Exposure to Arsenic Species by Two Representative Analytical Methods

“…Therefore, exposure assessment through cAs, rather than UAL AAS , is recommended for vulnerable areas where seafood consumption and human exposure risks of iAs are high. In particular, recently, a study was published that found a high possibility of As contamination on agricultural soils in abandoned metal mines in Korea [7]. This study assessed the interchangeability of cAs based on UAL AAS and established the unreliability of the estimated exponential and nonlinear second-order polynomial models.…”

“…Food is the second leading source of As intake [6]. Exposure might result from the consumption of crops grown in As-contaminated soils and dust inhalation in polluted areas such as mines [1,7]. Occupational exposure can occur through the inhalation of dust or aerosols with high As levels [8,9].…”

Species richness and phytoremediation potential of mine wastelands-native trees across the Zambian Copperbelt Region

“…Briefly, for each sampling plot, three individual grabs of soil were collected from randomly selected locations within the plot, and then mixed to form a composite sample. Soils were collected in the upper layer (0–30 cm) known to be the habitat of biological factors influencing plant growth [ 36 ], and which is commonly used for soil sampling in disturbed environment including agricultural lands and mine-generated wastelands [ 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”