Evaluation on Natural Background of the Soil Heavy Metals in Korea

This study was conducted in order to get the scientific background for soil pollution criteria. The 92 soil samples derived from various geological units were taken and analyzed to survey natural heavy metal background levels using aqua regia digestion method and 0.1N HCl extraction method. From these results, the average natural contents of metals were 0.287 mg/kg for Cd, 15.26 mg/kg for Cu, 18.43 mg/kg for Pb, 25.36 mg/kg for Cr, 54.27 mg/kg for Zn, 17.68 mg/kg for Ni, 6.83 mg/kg for As by the aqua regia method, and 0.040 mg/kg for Cd, 0.48 mg/kg for Cu, 3.06 mg/kg for Pb, 0.09 mg/ kg for Cr, 1.54 mg/kg for Zn, 0.27 mg/kg for Ni, 0.089 mg/kg for As by the 0.1N HCl extraction method. Ratios of soluble contents and total contents were Cd 0.14, Cu 0.03, Pb 0.17, Cr 0.004, Zn 0.03, Ni 0.02, As 0.013 and the correlation coefficients of soluble contents and total contents were 0.24(As), 0.88(Cd), 0.43(Cr), 0.65(Cu), 0.70(Pb), 0.61(Ni), 0.24(Zn). The correlation factor decreased in the order of Cd > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > Zn As. Key word : Heavy metals, Natural background, Aqua regia, Correlation, Criteria