Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers ISSN:2288-0291(Print) 2288-2790(Online) 한국자원공학회지

Environmental geochemical survey from some abandoned metal mine areas was undertaken to assess the risk of adverse health effects on human exposure to toxic heavy metals influenced by past mining activities. After appropriate sample preparation, tailings, soils, crop plants and waters were analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Elevated levels of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in tailings from the studied mine areas. These significantly high concentrations may impact on soils and waters around the tailing piles. In order to perform the human risk assessment modeling, chemical analysis data of soils, crop plants and waters for As, Cd and Zn have been used. By the result of toxic risk assessment, HI (hazard index) values of As and Cd were the highest in the Songcheon mine area. The probability of cancer risk due to As was significantly related to the consumption of water used for drinking. The estimated camcer risk was three in a thousand in the Songcheon mine area and from two to seven in a ten thousand in the Dongil, Okdong and Dongjung mine areas. This risk level is greater than the level range (1 in 100,000 to 1 in 1,000,000) required to perform appropriate remediation action.