Arsenic Fractionation and Bioavailability in Paddy Soils Near Closed Mines in Korea

To assess the bioavailability of As in soils and to provide a basic information for adequate management of As contaminated fields, paddy soils and rice grains near 5 closed mines were collected and analyzed for As using sequential extraction procedure. The As contents extracted with 1M HCl against total As content in soils were ranged from 5.4 to 41.9% (r=0.90**). However, these two contents of As in soils were not positively correlated with As concentration in rice grains. Major As fractionation of paddy soils was residual form ranging 38.1 to 84.1% except NS mine. Also, specially adsorbed fraction and fraction associated with amorphous Fe and Al oxyhydroxides, which are partially bioavailable As fractionation to the rice plant, were positively correlated with As in rice grains while fraction associated with crystalline Fe and Al oxyhydroxides and residual form were not correlated.