Variations in heavy metal contamination of stream water and groundwater affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine in Korea

This study evaluated variations in heavy metal contamination of stream waters and groundwaters affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine, where a rockfill dam for water storage will be built 11 km downstream. For these purposes, a total of 10 rounds of stream and groundwater samplings and subsequent chemical analyses were performed during 2002–2003. Results of an exploratory investigation of stream waters in 2000 indicated substantial contamination with heavy metals including zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and arsenic (As) for at least 6 km downstream from the mine. Stream waters near the mine showed metal contamination as high as arsenic (As) 8,923 μg L⁻¹, copper (Cu) 616 μg L⁻¹, cadmium (Cd) 223 μg L⁻¹ and lead (Pb) 10,590 μg L⁻¹, which greatly exceeded the Korean stream water guidelines. Remediation focused on the mine tailing piles largely improved the stream water qualities. However, there have still been quality problems for the waters containing relatively high concentrations of As (6–174 μg L⁻¹), Cd (1–46 μg L⁻¹) and Pb (2–26 μg L⁻¹). Rainfall infiltration into the mine tailing piles resulted in an increase of heavy metals in the stream waters due to direct discharge of waste effluent, while dilution of the contaminated stream waters improved the water quality due to mixing with metal free rain waters. Levels of As, Cu and chromium (Cr) largely decreased after heavy rain but that of Pb was rather elevated. The stream waters were characterized by high concentrations of calcium (Ca) and sulfate (SO₄), which were derived from dissolution and leaching of carbonate and sulfide minerals. It was observed that the proportions of Ca and SO₄ increased while those of bicarbonate (HCO₃) and sodium and potassium (Na+K) decreased after a light rainfall event. Most interestingly, the reverse was generally detected for the groundwaters. The zinc, being the metal mined, was the most dominant heavy metal in the groundwaters (1758–10,550 μg L⁻¹) near the mine, which far exceeded the Korean standard of 1000 μg L⁻¹ for drinking water. The decreases in the heavy metals contents in the groundwaters associated with reduced rainfall were quite different from the increases observed for the stream waters, which is not clearly understood at this time and warrants further investigation.     

稻麦轮作田氮素径流流失特征初步研究

针对近年来氮素化肥施用量大而利用率较低现状，在江苏太湖地区设计田间试验，研究稻麦轮作田全年氮素流失特征。结果表明，在本试验条件下稻季和麦季径流中氮损失量相近，麦季略高，约占施氮量的2％左右。麦稻轮作田径流氮损失中氨态氮较少，以硝态氮和其他形态氮为主，其中氨态氮损失以稻季为主，硝态氮损失稻季和麦季相近，其他形态氮损失麦季较多。不同作物田径流氮组成存在差异，麦季径流氮以硝态氮和其他形态氮为主，氨态氮极少，而稻季在施肥后短时间内径流氮中氨态氮、硝态氮和其他形态氮大致相当，其他时间以硝态氮和其他形态氮为主。     

Arsenic tissue concentration of immature mice one hour after oral exposure to gold mine tailings

A potentially high bioavailability of arsenic in gold mine tailings from a site in northern California has been suggested by solubility studies. To help address this issue, an in vivo dosing study was conducted using 12dayold Swiss Webster mouse pups (n=8/group). A sample of sizefractionated mine tailings from the site (<20m particle size, 691g g^–1 arsenic) was prepared as an aqueous suspension and administered by gavage in a volume that provided 4mg As/kg body weight. The control group received the same volume of a commercial soil (1g g^–1 As) of similar particle size (<60m). No mortality or toxic signs were noted in either group. Tissue samples were collected 1h after gavage, freezedried, microwavedigested and analysed for arsenic by ICP/MS (detection limit 2ng As g^–1 dry weight). Arsenic concentrations (ng As g^–1 dry weight) in tissues from the pups who received mine tailings were significantly higher than in control tissues. The mean elevation in arsenic concentration was highest in the liver (3364% of control, p<0.0001), followed by blood (818 of control, p<0.0001), skin (207% of control, p=0.07), and brain (143% of control, p<0.0001). The carcass arsenic concentration (excluding the GI tract, liver, brain and skin) was 138 of control (p=0.02). The data indicate uptake of arsenic from weathered mine tailings by the immature mouse pups after oral exposure.     

Decolorisation of Acid Blue 74 by ultraviolet/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The photodegradation of Acid blue 74 in aqueous solution employing a H₂O₂/ultraviolet system in a photochemical reactor was investigated. The kinetics of decolorization were studied by application of a kinetic model. The results show that the reaction of decolorization followed pseudo-first order kinetics. We demonstrate that there is an optimum H₂O₂ concentration, at which the rate of the decolorization reaction is maximum. Irradiation at 253.7 nm of the dye solution in the presence of H₂O₂ results in complete discoloration after ten minutes of treatment.     

Concentrations of arsenic and heavy metals in vegetation at two abandoned mine tailings in South Korea

Untreated abandoned mines may result in hazards to ecosystems due to dispersion of various toxic elements such as arsenic (As) and lead (Pb). Phytoremediation is an alternative of remediation for large scale mine dumps. Plant species were sampled from two abandoned gold (Au) mines in South Korea. Plant samples were digested following the guidelines of US EPA Method 3050 (US-EPA, 1996) and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations and bioaccumulation factors of plants are reported and out-performing species are summarized. Poplar trees (Populus davidiana) growing on the Myoungbong tailings were suggested to be a potential species for revegetation of large scale Au mine tailings. Arsenic accumulations of bracken ferns (Pteridium aquilinum) sampled from the Duckum tailings were far lower than those of the reported hyperaccumulators, but the possible chronic adverse effects on residents through daily diet are of concern.     

煤矿生活污水强化一级处理的可行性研究

叙述煤矿生活污水的水质特点和处理现状，分析强化一级处理工艺与效果，对其应用于煤矿生活污水进行了可行性研究，认为煤矿生活污水强化一级处理技术可行，经济实用。     

煤矿开采沉陷区综合整治与生态恢复的研究

煤炭资源大多分布在中国的生态脆弱区或粮食生产区,煤矿开采沉陷导致大量的土地遭受破坏,根据煤矿区地表沉陷的特点,利用采煤沉陷地复垦方法,对沉陷区进行综合整治及生态恢复,使受轻度影响的耕地经过简单整治全部可以恢复原有生产力;受中度影响的耕地经过复垦整治可恢复生产能力;受重度影响的耕地采用铲运机械分层剥离分层回填工艺,可恢复耕地功能.     

火电厂灰场排水除氟与降pH的试验研究

本文根据湖北荆门热电厂灰场排水水质情况采用硫酸铝－助凝剂的方法进行了除氟与降ｐＨ的试验研究．分别通过静态试验、实验室配水动态试验和现场动态试验,使灰场排水中的氟离子含量由１８ｍｇ／Ｌ左右降至１０ｍｇ／Ｌ以下,ｐＨ值由９左右降至８以下。灰场排水处理量为每小时５ｔ的现场试验结果表明,降低水中氟离子含量并同时降低其ｐＨ值的药品成本费为每吨灰火０．０５元左右,只降低ｐＨ的药成本费为每吨灰水０．０３元以下．     

基于GIS的露天煤矿土地复垦信息系统的建立

通过对露天煤矿土地复垦特点和ＧＩＳ强大功能的分析，阐述了露天煤矿矿土地复垦信息系统建立的设计思想，系统结构，功能和实现途径，并在安太堡露天煤矿人工重建的生态系统上进行运行、验证。结果表明：该系统运行良好。     

煤矿区景观生态环境评价指标体系的探讨

“破坏性建设”是煤矿区面临的严重问题,应采取适当的生态环境政策与评价分析,来规划、设计、建设煤矿区的景观生态环境。