Abstract
Heavy metal contents in commercial horticultural growing media were investigated Fifty-three samples were collected nationwide during 2000 to 2001 and heavy metals in the samples were analyzed by ICP-OES after acid digestion and 0.1N HCl extraction. Average contents of total Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, and Zn by acid digestion in the growing media were 0.69, 35.7, 14.9, 15.5, 12.7, and 54.8 mg/kg DW, respectively. The ranges of heavy metal in the growing media were , , , , , DW for Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively. Heavy metal contents in the commercial horticultural growing media were showed lower levels than the permitted levels for quality control described by Korean Standard Analytical Method for Growing Media. Average contents and ranges of 0.1 N HCl extractable heavy metals were 0.08 and for Cd, 0.38 and for Cr, 1.45 and for Cu, 0.85 and for Ni, 0.84 and for Pb, and 30.68 and DW for Zn, respectively. These concentrations by 0.1 N HCl extraction showed much less levels than those of total heavy metals by acid digestion.
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