Heavy Metal Distribution in Agricultural Soils and Soil-to-Rice Transfer around Abandoned Mines in Haman,  Korea

Hee Won Kwon; Young Hun Kim; Jeong Jin Kim

doi:10.7857/JSGE.2026.31.5.063

All Issue

2026 Vol.31, Issue 5 Preview Page Next Page

Research Paper

Heavy Metal Distribution in Agricultural Soils and Soil-to-Rice Transfer around Abandoned Mines in Haman, Korea 함안 지역 폐광산 주변 농경지 토양의 중금속 분포 및 생물전이 평가

31 October 2026. pp. 63-74

PDF XML

Abstract

This study investigated the distribution of heavy metals in agricultural soils and their transfer to rice around abandoned metal mines in Haman, Korea. Sixty-two paired soil and rice samples were collected from five regions (GB, YC, JC, DC, and DS), and As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations were determined. Soil-to-rice transfer was evaluated using bioconcentration factors (BCFs). Regional mean concentrations in soils ranged from 5.24–17.82 mg/kg for As, 1.89–2.57 for Cd, 22.86–32.16 for Cr, 29.89–34.95 for Cu, 12.61–17.15 for Ni, 12.04–15.52 for Pb, and 55.61–83.19 for Zn. Corresponding concentrations in rice ranged from 0.08–0.17, 0.02–0.07, 2.69–8.64, 2.77–3.84, 0.99–5.71, 0.20–0.37, and 3.78–6.49 mg/kg, respectively. Although soil and rice As showed relatively similar spatial patterns, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations and BCFs were relatively high in rice from DC despite comparatively low soil concentrations. BCFs were generally higher for Ni and Cr and lower for As and Cd. These results demonstrate that total soil concentrations alone cannot adequately explain metal accumulation in rice and highlight the importance of metal bioavailability and element-specific uptake processes.

Keywords

Abandoned metal mine

Agricultural soil

Bioconcentration factor

Heavy metal

Rice

References

Arao, T., Kawasaki, A., Baba, K., Mori, S., and Matsumoto, S., 2009, Effects of water management on cadmium and arsenic accumulation and dimethylarsinic acid concentrations in Japanese rice, Environ. Sci. Technol., 43(24), 9361-9367.

10.1021/es9022738

Broadley, M.R., White, P.J., Hammond, J.P., Zelko, I., and Lux, A., 2007, Zinc in plants, New Phytol., 173(4), 677-702.

10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.01996.x

Clemens, S. and Ma, J.F., 2016, Toxic heavy metal and metalloid accumulation in crop plants and foods, Annu. Rev. Plant Biol., 67, 489-512.

10.1146/annurev-arplant-043015-112301

Honma, T., Ohba, H., Kaneko-Kadokura, A., Makino, T., Nakamura, K., and Katou, H., 2016, Optimal soil Eh, pH, and water management for simultaneously minimizing arsenic and cadmium concentrations in rice grains, Environ. Sci. Technol., 50(8), 4178-4185.

10.1021/acs.est.5b05424

Kim, R.Y., Yoon, J.K., Kim, T.S., Yang, J.E., Owens, G., and Kim, K.R., 2015, Bioavailability of heavy metals in soils: Definitions and practical implementation—A critical review, Environ. Geochem. Health, 37(6), 1041-1061.

10.1007/s10653-015-9695-y

Seregin, I.V. and Kozhevnikova, A.D., 2006, Physiological role of nickel and its toxic effects on higher plants, Russ. J. Plant Physiol., 53(2), 257-277.

10.1134/S1021443706020178

Shanker, A.K., Cervantes, C., Loza-Tavera, H., and Avudainayagam, S., 2005, Chromium toxicity in plants, Environ. Int., 31(5), 739-753.

10.1016/j.envint.2005.02.003

Sharma, P. and Dubey, R.S., 2005, Lead toxicity in plants, Braz. J. Plant Physiol., 17(1), 35-52.

10.1590/S1677-04202005000100004

Uraguchi, S. and Fujiwara, T., 2012, Cadmium transport and tolerance in rice: Perspectives for reducing grain cadmium accumulation, Rice, 5(1), 5.

10.1186/1939-8433-5-524764505PMC3834507

Yadav, P., Singh, B., Garg, V.K., Mor, S., and Pulhani, V., 2017, Bioaccumulation and health risks of heavy metals associated with consumption of rice grains from croplands in Northern India, Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess., 23(1), 14-27.

10.1080/10807039.2016.1218750

Yruela, I., 2009, Copper in plants: Acquisition, transport and interactions, Funct. Plant Biol., 36(5), 409-430.

10.1071/FP08288

Zhao, F.J. and Wang, P., 2020, Arsenic and cadmium accumulation in rice and mitigation strategies, Plant Soil, 446, 1-21.

10.1007/s11104-019-04374-6

Zhao, F.J., Ma, J.F., Meharg, A.A., and McGrath, S.P., 2009, Arsenic uptake and metabolism in plants, New Phytol., 181(4), 777-794.

10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02716.x

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment
Publisher(Ko) :한국지하수토양환경학회
Journal Title :Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
Journal Title(Ko) :지하수토양환경
Volume : 31
No :5
Pages :63-74
Received Date : 2026-09-28
Revised Date : 2026-10-10
Accepted Date : 2026-10-12
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7857/JSGE.2026.31.5.063

Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment ISSN:1598-6438(Print) 2287-8831(Online) 지하수토양환경

All Issue