Geochemical Distributions of Heavy Metals and Cr Behavior in Natural and Cultivated Soils of Volcanic Jeju Island, Korea

Jeju Island's volcanic ash soils, classified as Andisols, exhibit unique geochemical characteristics with elevated levels of heavy metals, particularly chromium (Cr), which can exceed 1000 mg/kg. This study reveals that Cr is a significant soil contaminant, originating from ferromagnesian minerals and associating with Fe and Al oxides during weathering. Cultivated soils maintain these volcanic properties but show slight increases in Cu, Pb, and Zn due to fertilizer inputs, while Cr content decreases, possibly forming soluble organic complexes of Cr(III). The high reducing capacity of these soils suggests a low potential for Cr(VI) contamination. The research analyzed mineralogy, texture, and heavy metal distributions in both natural and cultivated soils using sequential extractions and geochemical assessments.

Ahn, J. S., & Chon, C.-M. (2010). Geochemical Distributions of Heavy Metals and Cr Behavior in Natural and Cultivated Soils of Volcanic Jeju Island, Korea. Geosystem Engineering, 13(1), 9–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/12269328.2010.10541304