Investigating Heavy Metal Contamination Extent of Soil and Plant from Urban Gardens in Jinju

Abstract

In Korea, 90% of the population lives in urban areas, so urban agriculture is commonly carried out. However, research on the safety of urban soils for growing food still needs to be done. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of urban soil for crop cultivation by investigating the heavy metal concentration of soil and plant from urban gardens in Jinju. Soils and crop leaves were collected from 23 urban gardens, and the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were analyzed. The average concentrations of garden soils in Jinju were As 5.31, Cd 0.59, Cr 30.09, Cu 33.05, Ni 21.14, Pb 23.28, and Zn 121.68 mg kg-1, which did not exceed the Korean guidelines except for Zn in one study site. Geoaccumulation Index, calculated using the background values of heavy metals in Korean soil, showed that contamination of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn was in progress. The inflow of Cu and Zn into the garden soils would be from the atmosphere and direct entry into the soil by adding livestock manure. Differently, the other elements were more predominantly introduced from the atmosphere. Particularly, a significant amount of Pb was introduced into the soils from the atmosphere in a couple of gardens. Overall, the results from this study indicated that continuous monitoring for heavy metals in urban garden soils is required for food safety.The number of urban gardens at each level of soil contamination by Geoaccumulation Index. Level of soil contamination As Cd Cu Ni Pb Zn Practically uncontaminated 19 1 1 12 12 1 Uncontaminated to moderately contaminated 3 12 10 8 8 12 Moderately contaminated 1 10 9 3 2 8 Moderately to heavily contaminated 0 0 3 0 1 2 More than heavily contaminated 0 0 0 0 0 0