Econ. Environ. Geol. 2002; 35(1): 25-41

Published online February 28, 2002

© THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Contamination of Dissolved Major Ions and Heavy Metals in Waters and Sediments from the Tancheon River

Sung-Eun Lee1*, Kyu-Han Kim1, Jin-Soo Lee2 and Hyo-Taek Chon2

1Department of Science Education, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 12-750, Korea
2School of Civil, Urban and Geosystem Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea

Correspondence to :

Sung-Eun Lee

002ESE05@ewha.ac.kr

Received: November 23, 2001; Accepted: February 24, 2002

Abstract

In order to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and contamination of dissolved major ions and heavy metals in the Tancheon River, river water and sediment samples were collected at 18 locations, along a distance of 69 km, between Yongin-si in Kyunggi-do and Samsung-dong in Seoul on October in 2000 and April in 2001. After appropriate sample preparation, waters were analyzed for the dissolved constituents and sediments. The pH values of river waters were in the range of 7.0 to 9.3 and could be plotted in the area of surface environment. The level of Ca2+, Cl-, SO42-, NO3-  and HCO3- in the Tancheon River were higher than those in world average river water. Most of dissolved constituents in the river waters increased toward downstream from upstream. In particular, high concentrations of Zn2+, Na+, Cl-, SO42- and NO3- were found near densely residential areas and the Sungnam waste
water treatment plant. The relative ion enrichment was caused by the inflow of local domestic and industrial sewages. Also, Ca2+ and HCO3- concentrations were enriched in the middle of the Tancheon River due to the dissolution of cements. This indicates that the apartment complexes were built on a large scale in the upriver since these ten years and large amounts of construction materials such as cements were flowed into the Tancheon River. Concentrations of heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) in sediments from the Tancheon River exceeded the lower limit of tolerence level in bottom sediment established by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (OME) of Canada. In particular, these metals were highly elevated in sediment (TSM-12) collected from near the Sungnam waste water treatment plant. Heavy metals were higher enriched in sediments collected from dry period rather than wet period.

Keywords the Tancheon River, heavy metal, domestic sewage, the Sungnam waste water treatment plant

Article

Econ. Environ. Geol. 2002; 35(1): 25-41

Published online February 28, 2002

Copyright © THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY.

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Contamination of Dissolved Major Ions and Heavy Metals in Waters and Sediments from the Tancheon River

Sung-Eun Lee1*, Kyu-Han Kim1, Jin-Soo Lee2 and Hyo-Taek Chon2

1Department of Science Education, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 12-750, Korea
2School of Civil, Urban and Geosystem Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea

Correspondence to:

Sung-Eun Lee

002ESE05@ewha.ac.kr

Received: November 23, 2001; Accepted: February 24, 2002

Abstract

In order to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and contamination of dissolved major ions and heavy metals in the Tancheon River, river water and sediment samples were collected at 18 locations, along a distance of 69 km, between Yongin-si in Kyunggi-do and Samsung-dong in Seoul on October in 2000 and April in 2001. After appropriate sample preparation, waters were analyzed for the dissolved constituents and sediments. The pH values of river waters were in the range of 7.0 to 9.3 and could be plotted in the area of surface environment. The level of Ca2+, Cl-, SO42-, NO3-  and HCO3- in the Tancheon River were higher than those in world average river water. Most of dissolved constituents in the river waters increased toward downstream from upstream. In particular, high concentrations of Zn2+, Na+, Cl-, SO42- and NO3- were found near densely residential areas and the Sungnam waste
water treatment plant. The relative ion enrichment was caused by the inflow of local domestic and industrial sewages. Also, Ca2+ and HCO3- concentrations were enriched in the middle of the Tancheon River due to the dissolution of cements. This indicates that the apartment complexes were built on a large scale in the upriver since these ten years and large amounts of construction materials such as cements were flowed into the Tancheon River. Concentrations of heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) in sediments from the Tancheon River exceeded the lower limit of tolerence level in bottom sediment established by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (OME) of Canada. In particular, these metals were highly elevated in sediment (TSM-12) collected from near the Sungnam waste water treatment plant. Heavy metals were higher enriched in sediments collected from dry period rather than wet period.

Keywords the Tancheon River, heavy metal, domestic sewage, the Sungnam waste water treatment plant

    KSEEG
    Dec 31, 2024 Vol.57 No.6, pp. 665~835

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