Abstract

The species of four heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb) associated with sediments (viz exchangeable, carbonates, reducible, organic and residual fractions) were determined with respect to the particle sizes and depths at four locations of the lower Kumho river. In the exchangeable fraction, 3.7~19.52% of Ni and 2.8~14.81% of Pb were found, and in the carbonates fraction 2.12~19.43% of Ni and 1.39~15.42% of Pb were found. The reducible fraction retained about 8.66~44.93% of Cr, 0.41~9.79% of Cu, 17.38~35.74% of Ni and 9.5~44.89% of Pb. In the organic fraction about 0~21.06% of Cr, 2.95~35.74% of Cu, 0~14.66% of Ni and 0~10.65% of Pb were found. The residual fraction retained about 52.6~83.53% of Cr, 63.86~86.39% of Cu, 39.66~66.16% of Ni and 39.97~71.75% of Pb. The order of release or mobility of heavy metals was Ni > Pb > Cr > Cu. Mobile fraction of heavy metals by particle sizes (1.0~0.5 mm and 0.5~0.25 mm) was found to be higher in particle sizes 1.0~0.5 mm than that of 0.5~0.25 mm. The release or mobility of heavy metals by depths (0~5 cm, 5~10 cm and 10~15 cm) was found to be higher in the upper sediments than in the lower sediments, except Cu.

Keywords

• heavy metals;
• sediment;
• species;
• particle sizes;
• depths