Investigation of Heavy Metal (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb) Contents in the Effluents, Soils and Plants at Keumho Riverside

This study was carried out to determine the heavy metal contents in effluents, soils and plants grown on the soils from 1982 to 1983. The heavy metal pollution of Keumho river was resulted from Sincheon, Kongdancheon and Dalseocheon. The urban sewage influxes in Sincheon and Dalseocheon whereas the industrial wastewater flows in Kongdancheon. The average heavy metal contents of effluents in these streams exceeded the Korean Standard Environmental value. The high level of heavy metal contents in soils and plant tissues should be originated from the polluted river water. The heavy metal contents of soils were significantly positively correlated with that of plant.