• Title/Summary/Keyword: Heavy metals

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Bacteria and Fungi as Alternatives for Remediation of Water Resources Polluting Heavy Metals

  • Joo, Jin-Ho;Hussein, Khalid A.;Hassan, Sedky H.A.
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.600-614
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    • 2011
  • Classical methods which used for removal of heavy metals from contaminated water are adsorption, precipitation, coagulation, ion exchange resin, evaporation, and membrane processes. Microbial biosorption can be used for the removal of contaminated waters with pollutants such as heavy metals and dyes which are not easily biodegradable. Microbial biosorbents are inexpensive, eco friendly and more effective for the removal of toxic metals from aqueous solution. In this review, the bacterial and fungal abilities for heavy metals ions removal are emphasized. Environmental factors which affect biosorption process are also discussed. A detailed description for the most common isotherm and kinetic models are presented. This article reviews the achievements and the current status of bacterial and fungal biosorption technology for heavy metals removal and provides insights for further researches.

Distribution of Heavy Metals in the Sediments and Periwinkles (Littorina brevicula) of Onsan Bay, Korea (온산만의 퇴적물과 총알고둥(Littorina brevicula) 내 중금속 분포)

  • 송미연;이인숙;최병래;박경숙
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.51-59
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    • 1997
  • To investigate the distribution of heavy metal concentrations in Onsan bay, concentrations of cadmium, copper, zine and lead in surface sediments and the periwinkles (Littorina brevicula) were determined in Feburary and July, 1996. The ranges of cadmium, copper, zinc and lead concentrations in the surface sediments were 0.08-3.72, 3-307, 49-1273 and 15-399 ${\mu}g/g$ dry weight, respectively, The decrease of concentration in heavy metals with distance from Daejeong stream indicated that this stream is the pollutant source of heavy metals in Onsan Bay. The concentrations of cadmium, copper, zinc and led in L. brevicula were 0.11-11.81, 21-212, 30-96 and 0.26-4.12 ${\mu}g/g$ dry weigth in February and 1.01-24.9, 66-325, 54-225 and 0.68-8.41 ${\mu}g/g$ dry weight in July, respectively. These concentrations in L. brevicula were the significantly different (p<0.001) with the season of sampling. However, overall distribution of concentrations of heavy metals in L. brevicula had very similar tendency that concentrations of heavy metal decreased with the distance from the pollutant source irrespective of the two seasons. Therefore, L. brevicula is considered as a useful indicator for heavy metals pollution, According to analysis of the organs, tissues such as the digestive gland, gill and viceral mussel accumulate high concentrations of heavy metals.

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Existing Forms of Heavy Metals in the Vicinity of a Smelter (제련소 주변토양 중금속 존재형태)

  • Woo, Sang-Duck;Kim, Geon-Ha;Kim, Young-Jin;Nam, Kyoung-Phile
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.15 no.5
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    • pp.16-22
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    • 2010
  • Heavy metals in soils exist in various forms dependent upon surrounding conditions. As the Janghang smelter area is of concern for its high elevated heavy metal concentrations, Korean government decided to remediate the area. Main objectives of this research were; to analyze heavy metal concentrations and their existing forms in the vicinity of the smelter; and to understand differences made by analysis techniques of heavy metals. Top soils of rice field, crop field, bare field, and forestry in the area were sampled and analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, and As were analyzed with two pretreatment techniques adopted using 0.1 N HCl and aqua regia. To analyze existing forms of heavy metals, Tessier's schemes for sequential extraction technique were adopted. Exchangeable fraction and carbonate bound fraction of heavy metals may pose potential threat to environment and were in the order of Pb > As > Cu > Cd. If assessing mobile fraction of heavy metals by land uses, the order was forestry > bare land > crop field > rice field. When analyzed using Tessier's scheme, high ratio of residual fractions to total arsenic concentration should be considered for remediation design of the area.

Measurement of Hazardous Substances in Children's Goods at Schools in Seoul (휴대용 XRF를 이용한 서울시 학교 내 어린이용품 중 일부 유해물질 함량 조사)

  • Kim, KyooSang;Park, Hyunkyung;Choi, Gilyoung;Lim, Wanryong;Shin, Kyoojin
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.43 no.3
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    • pp.176-184
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: Excluding in their homes, children spend most of their time at an elementary school, daycare center, and/or kindergarten. For educational or recreational purposes, they make use of many children's goods at these places. Some children's goods contain phthalates and heavy metals with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), so due to their physiological and behavioral characteristics children are exposed to high concentrations of phthalates and heavy metals. This study aims to measure PVC and heavy metals, which are harmful substances in children's goods which can have an effect on children's health. Methods: Six samples of children's goods were selected through cases of detected harmful substances and the results of previous research, including assembly blocks, model toys, household toys, bags, indoor play equipment, and floor mats. The selected items were measured using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and the presence and content of environmentally harmful substances such as PVC or heavy metals in the materials of children's goods were examined. Results: The highest detection rate for PVC was observed in floor mats, and bags and indoor play equipment were higher than other goods in this regard. The highest detection rate for heavy metals was found in bags, followed by indoor play equipment, assembly blocks, household toys, model toys and floor mats. Except for bags containing heavy metals, five goods showed the highest level of Pb compared to other heavy metals. Floor mats contained the highest level of Pb, Cr, and Cu among all goods. Conclusion: Many children's goods contain PVC and heavy metals, and high levels of heavy metals have been detected in some goods. It is necessary to manage children's goods to support their health.

Pollution of Heavy Metals in Paddy Soils Around the Downstream Area of Abandoned Metal Mine and Efficiency of Reversed Soil Method as Its Remediation (폐금속광산 하부 농경지 토양의 중금속오염과 그 복구방법으로서 반전객토의 효율성)

  • Na, Choon-Ki;Lee, Mu-Seong;Chung, Jae-Il
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.123-135
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    • 1997
  • In order to investigate the dispersion patterns and contamination level of heavy metals in the soil-ecosystem and to evaluate the efficiency of soil remediation by reversed soil method, soils and plants were collected from the Dongjin Au-Ag-Cu mine area and analysed for heavy metals. The dispersion patterns of heavy metals in soils and plants show that heavy metal pollutions caused by waste rump around Dongjin mine are mainly found in the vicinity of the waste rump and in the southward slanting of mine. Toxic metallic pollutants from the mine influence heavy metal contents in paddy soils in downstream area, and may be a potential sources of heavy metal pollution on crop plants. Soil samples collected from the remediated rice farming field by reversed method show similar levels of heavy metal content to those from the polluted rice farming field, but topsoil enrichment of heavy metals are not found. Heavy metal contents of the rice plants collected from remediated rice farming field are significantly lower than those from polluted rice farming field, and it suggests that the reversed soil method is effective for the reduction of bioavailability of heavy metals.

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Improved adsorption performance of heavy metals by surface modification of polypropylene/polyethylene media through oxygen plasma and acrylic acid

  • Hong, Jeongmin;Lee, Seungwoo;Ko, Dongah;Gwon, Eunmi;Hwang, Yuhoon
    • Membrane and Water Treatment
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.231-235
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    • 2020
  • Industrialization and modern developments have led to an influx of toxic heavy metals into the aquatic environment, and the accumulation of heavy metals has serious adverse effects on humans. Among the various heavy metal treatment methods, adsorption is very useful and frequently used. Plastic materials, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, have been widely used as filter media due to their mechanical and chemical stability. However, the surface of plastic material is inert and therefore the adsorption capability of heavy metals is very limited. In this study, granular media and fiber media composed of polypropylene and polyethylene are used, and the surface modification was conducted in order to increase adsorption capability toward heavy metals. Oxygen plasma generated hydroxyl groups on the surface of the media to activate the surface, and then acrylic acid was synthesized on the surface. The grafted carboxyl group was confirmed by FT-IR and SEM. Heavy metal adsorption capability of pristine and surface modified adsorbents was also evaluated. Overall, heavy metal adsorption capability was increased by surface modification due to electrostatic interaction between the carboxyl groups and heavy metal ions. Fibrous PP/PE showed lower improvement compared to granular PP media because pore blockage occurred by the surface modification step, thereby inhibiting mass transfer.

Concentration of Heavy Metals in Natural Soils of Jeju Island, Korea (제주도 자연토양에서 중금속의 농도)

  • Kim, Se-Ra;Hyun, Sung-Su;Song, Sang-Taek;Lee, Min-Gyu;Kam, Sang-Kyu
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.175-188
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    • 2015
  • For 63 soil series distributed in Jeju Island, natural uncultivated soils in each soil series were collected, and their physicochemical properties and their concentrations of 19 heavy metals including 8 heavy metals which are regulated by Korean Soil Environment Conservation Law, were analyzed. Moreover, the correlations between physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations, and between heavy metal concentrations were analyzed. The heavy metals distributed in the higher concentrations and the lower concentrations with arithmetric mean value, were Mn(730 mg/kg) and Ba(493 mg/kg), and Hg(0.146 mg/kg) and Tl(0.096 mg/kg), respectively. The correlations between pH($H_2O$) and heavy metals(Hg, Ni, Co, Se), between pH(NaF) and heavy metals(Hg, Ba, Se, Tl), and between organic matter content and heavy metals(Hg, Tl) were significant at the 0.01 level. From the correlations between heavy metal concentrations, there were 22 where there were significant at the 0.01 level and they showed positive correlation. Among those, the heavy metals showing the correlation higher than r=0.5, were Sb-V(0.878), Mo-Sn(0.867), Co-V(0.654), Co-Sb(0.648), Be-Sn(0.546), and Sn-Tl(0.528).

Concentration of Heavy Metals in Sagunjatang, Decoction and Its Ingredient Herbal Medicines (사군자탕 제조 시 탕약과 찌꺼기 중의 중금속 함량연구)

  • Park, Moon-Ki
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.241-245
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    • 2007
  • We studied concentration of heavy metals in Sagunjatang. In this experiment was analyzed the concentration of heavy metals of boiled Sagunjatang, decoction and its ingredient herbal medicines. The concentration of heavy metals(As, Pb, and Cd) were analysed using ICP-AES, and Hg was analysed by mercury analyzer. The average concentration of heavy metals in Sagunjatang were as follows : In all ingredient herbal medicines (Glycyrrhizae Radix, Atractylodes Macrocephala, Poria Cocos and Jinseng) of Sagunjatang, As(arsenite) contents in ail samples was in the range of 0.369-0.723ppm, Cd(cadmium) was in the range of 0.000-0.085ppm, Pb(lead) was in the range of 0.059-0.871ppm and Hg(mercury) was in the range of 0.001-0.004ppm. In boiled Sagunjatang, the concentration of heavy metals(As, Pb, Cd and Hg) was in the range of 0.000-0.016ppm, respectively. In the decoction of herbal medicines after boiled, the concentration of heavy metals was in the range of 0.004-0.387ppm. These results suggest that Sagunjatang which we take is less harmful than herbal medicine itself, and there are more significant for using the decoction of herbal medicines.

The Distribution Characteristics of Heavy Metals in the Water, Sediment and Soil along the West Nakdong River (서낙동강 유역의 강물, 저토 및 토양의 중금속 분포 특성)

  • Park, Heung-Jai;Park, Jong-Kil;Park, Won-Su
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.3 no.4
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    • pp.409-416
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    • 1994
  • This study was Performed to evaluate the contents of heavy metals in water, sediment and soil of the 7 different sampling points along the West Nakdong river, The results were as follows: the concentrations of Zn, p, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cu and As in the sediment were 197.48, 551.85, 67.01, 2.54, 491.39, 42.95 and 10.52ppm, respectively. The concentrations of Zn, p, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cu and As in the soil was 83.32, 482.89, 17.15, 1.02, 226.02, 26.15 and 7.29ppm, respectively. The concentration ratios of heavy metals In the water to the sediment were 593 - 12700 (Cd >> Cu > Zn > Mn > As > Pb) and that of the water to the soil were 152 - 5100 (Cu > Cd > Zn > Mn > As >Pb). The correlation coefficients of Cu and Pb weve high among the water, sediment and soil. Because the accumulation amounts of heavy metal in the sediment were high, the concentration of heavy metals in the sediment was higher than in soil. The correlation coefficient of heavy metals among water, sediment and soil was high (0.79 - 0.95). Key Words Distribution Characteristics, heavy metals, West Nakdong River.

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Monitoring Research for Heavy Metals as Endocrine Disruptors in Herbal Medicines and Ssangwha-Tang (한약재와 탕액(쌍화탕)중 내분비계 장애물질로서의 개별 중금속의 함량 연구( I ))

  • Kim, Jin-Sook;Hwang, Sung-Won;Kim, Jong-Moon;Ma, Jin-Yeul
    • Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.117-122
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    • 2000
  • The purpose of this study is to compare the contents of heavy metals of boiled ssangwhatang with those of herbal ingredients which are composed of ssangwhatang. Ssangwhatang is used for antifatigue, tonic and so on. With industrial development, our environment has been very polluted. Herbal medicines also are seriously contaminated by heavy metals and pesticides. The herbal medicines of ssangwhatang were bought at 10 defferent markets. The contents of 14 heavy metals(Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn) were analysed using ICP. It was found out that 7 heavy metals(Pb, As, Ba, Cd, Hg, Sb, Sn) were not detected at all in boiled ssangwhatangs. But they were detectable in all ssangwhatangingredients before boiling. For example, the content of Pb in one pack of ssangwhatang before boiling was $0.039^{\circ}{\pm}0.005mg$ and Pb in boiled one was not detected. Herbal medicine itself is seriously contaminated by heavy metals. These results suggest that boiled ssangwhatang which we take is safe from the contamination of heavy metals.

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