Arsenic species in ecosystems affected by arsenic-rich spring water near an abandoned mine in Korea.
The objectives of this study were to quantitatively estimate the distribution of arsenic with its speciation and to identify potential pathways for transformation of arsenic species from samples of water, sediments, and plants in the ecosystem affected by the Cheongog Spring, where As(V) concentration reached levels up to 0.270 mg L(-1). After flowing about 100 m downstream, the arsenic level showed a marked reduction to 0.044 mg L(-1) (about 84% removal) without noticeable changes in major water chemistry. The field study and laboratory hydroponic experiments with the dominant emergent plants along the creek (water dropwort and thunbergian smartweed) indicated that arsenic distribution, reduction, and speciation appear to be controlled by, (i) sorption onto stream sediments in exchangeable fractions, (ii) bioaccumulation by and possible release from emergent plants, and (iii) transformation of As(V) to As(III) and organic species through biological activities.
Kim
Y T
YT
Department of Earth System Science, Yonsei University, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Sudaemoon-Gu, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea.
Yoon
H O
HO
Yoon
C
C
Woo
N C
NC
D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D008906:Mining; D060985:Natural Springs / Q000032:analysis*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D001152:Arsenicals; D014873:Water Pollutants