CONTAMINATION OF SOIL WITH HEAVY METALS DRAINED OUT FROM ABANDONED MINES IN THE SOUTH-WEST REGION OF KOREA

Contamination of soil with heavy metals drained out from twenty eight abandoned mines in the southwest regions of Korea has been investigated. Utilizing various statistical techniques, the goal was to evaluate and analyze pH and the contamination with Arsenic, and the following six heavy metals: cadmium, hydrargyrum, lead, nickel, chromium, and zinc. Contamination levels of heavy metals were determined depending on the depth of the soil. Results indicated that the subsoil and the surface soil both were strongly contaminated with lead and arsenic. Furthermore, the subsoil also contained much nickel. In forest regions, high levels of lead and arsenic, whereas in all regions high levels of zinc have been detected.