Abstract
We investigated the source of heavy metals in soils at a site in South Korea, where a ground transportation of zinc-concentrates (ZnS, sphalerite) occurs daily. Seventy soil samples were collected at the site and analyzed for residual concentrations of heavy metals, as well as their chemical and mineralogical properties. Enrichment factor was calculated based on local geochemical background level of metals in soils and confirmed the contamination of soils in the area by an anthropogenic source. The concentration data were also subjected to a Pearson correlation analysis to determine the possible influences of anthropogenic sources and identify the primary source. A slight negative correlation between heavy metals and Al, and a weak correlation between heavy metals and Fe implied that the heavy metals originated from anthropogenic inputs rather than a geogenic source. A strong positive linear correlation between Zn and other heavy metals (i.e., As, Cd, Cu, Pb, r ≥ 0.96, p ≤ 0.001) suggested the influence of a single anthropogenic source of zinc-concentrates containing all of these heavy metals. Zinc-concentrate oxidation and leaching experiments, which mimicked physical and chemical weathering in the environment, indicated that zinc-concentrate could be transformed to zinc oxides and release Cd and Pb upon precipitation. The findings in this study provide an insight into the fate of the Zn that the original form of zinc-concentrate would not remain in the soil after long-term weathering, which should be considered when source of heavy metals is identified.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 802 |
| Journal | Environmental Earth Sciences |
| Volume | 76 |
| Issue number | 23 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 Dec 1 |
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Keywords
- Heavy metals
- Pearson correlation
- Soil contamination
- Source identification
- Zinc-concentrates
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Global and Planetary Change
- Environmental Chemistry
- Water Science and Technology
- Soil Science
- Pollution
- Geology
- Earth-Surface Processes
Cite this
Spatial distribution, mineralogy, and weathering of heavy metals in soils along zinc-concentrate ground transportation routes : implication for assessing heavy metal sources. / Kwon, Man Jae; Lee, Ju Yeon; Hwang, Yun Ho; Jeon, Soo kyung; Yang, Jung Seok; Yun, Seong Taek; Lee, Seunghak.
In: Environmental Earth Sciences, Vol. 76, No. 23, 802, 01.12.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial distribution, mineralogy, and weathering of heavy metals in soils along zinc-concentrate ground transportation routes
T2 - implication for assessing heavy metal sources
AU - Kwon, Man Jae
AU - Lee, Ju Yeon
AU - Hwang, Yun Ho
AU - Jeon, Soo kyung
AU - Yang, Jung Seok
AU - Yun, Seong Taek
AU - Lee, Seunghak
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - We investigated the source of heavy metals in soils at a site in South Korea, where a ground transportation of zinc-concentrates (ZnS, sphalerite) occurs daily. Seventy soil samples were collected at the site and analyzed for residual concentrations of heavy metals, as well as their chemical and mineralogical properties. Enrichment factor was calculated based on local geochemical background level of metals in soils and confirmed the contamination of soils in the area by an anthropogenic source. The concentration data were also subjected to a Pearson correlation analysis to determine the possible influences of anthropogenic sources and identify the primary source. A slight negative correlation between heavy metals and Al, and a weak correlation between heavy metals and Fe implied that the heavy metals originated from anthropogenic inputs rather than a geogenic source. A strong positive linear correlation between Zn and other heavy metals (i.e., As, Cd, Cu, Pb, r ≥ 0.96, p ≤ 0.001) suggested the influence of a single anthropogenic source of zinc-concentrates containing all of these heavy metals. Zinc-concentrate oxidation and leaching experiments, which mimicked physical and chemical weathering in the environment, indicated that zinc-concentrate could be transformed to zinc oxides and release Cd and Pb upon precipitation. The findings in this study provide an insight into the fate of the Zn that the original form of zinc-concentrate would not remain in the soil after long-term weathering, which should be considered when source of heavy metals is identified.
AB - We investigated the source of heavy metals in soils at a site in South Korea, where a ground transportation of zinc-concentrates (ZnS, sphalerite) occurs daily. Seventy soil samples were collected at the site and analyzed for residual concentrations of heavy metals, as well as their chemical and mineralogical properties. Enrichment factor was calculated based on local geochemical background level of metals in soils and confirmed the contamination of soils in the area by an anthropogenic source. The concentration data were also subjected to a Pearson correlation analysis to determine the possible influences of anthropogenic sources and identify the primary source. A slight negative correlation between heavy metals and Al, and a weak correlation between heavy metals and Fe implied that the heavy metals originated from anthropogenic inputs rather than a geogenic source. A strong positive linear correlation between Zn and other heavy metals (i.e., As, Cd, Cu, Pb, r ≥ 0.96, p ≤ 0.001) suggested the influence of a single anthropogenic source of zinc-concentrates containing all of these heavy metals. Zinc-concentrate oxidation and leaching experiments, which mimicked physical and chemical weathering in the environment, indicated that zinc-concentrate could be transformed to zinc oxides and release Cd and Pb upon precipitation. The findings in this study provide an insight into the fate of the Zn that the original form of zinc-concentrate would not remain in the soil after long-term weathering, which should be considered when source of heavy metals is identified.
KW - Heavy metals
KW - Pearson correlation
KW - Soil contamination
KW - Source identification
KW - Zinc-concentrates
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037031903&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85037031903&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12665-017-7158-8
DO - 10.1007/s12665-017-7158-8
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85037031903
VL - 76
JO - Environmental Earth Sciences
JF - Environmental Earth Sciences
SN - 1866-6280
IS - 23
M1 - 802
ER -