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Assessing Statistically Significant Heavy-Metal Concentrations in Abandoned Mine Areas via Hot Spot Analysis of Portable XRF Data

Author

Listed:
  • Sung-Min Kim

    (Energy Resources Institute, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea)

  • Yosoon Choi

    (Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea)

Abstract

To develop appropriate measures to prevent soil contamination in abandoned mining areas, an understanding of the spatial variation of the potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) in the soil is necessary. For the purpose of effective soil sampling, this study uses hot spot analysis, which calculates a z -score based on the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic to identify a statistically significant hot spot sample. To constitute a statistically significant hot spot, a feature with a high value should also be surrounded by other features with high values. Using relatively cost- and time-effective portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analysis, sufficient input data are acquired from the Busan abandoned mine and used for hot spot analysis. To calibrate the PXRF data, which have a relatively low accuracy, the PXRF analysis data are transformed using the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) data. The transformed PXRF data of the Busan abandoned mine are classified into four groups according to their normalized content and z -scores: high content with a high z -score (HH), high content with a low z -score (HL), low content with a high z -score (LH), and low content with a low z -score (LL). The HL and LH cases may be due to measurement errors. Additional or complementary surveys are required for the areas surrounding these suspect samples or for significant hot spot areas. The soil sampling is conducted according to a four-phase procedure in which the hot spot analysis and proposed group classification method are employed to support the development of a sampling plan for the following phase. Overall, 30, 50, 80, and 100 samples are investigated and analyzed in phases 1–4, respectively. The method implemented in this case study may be utilized in the field for the assessment of statistically significant soil contamination and the identification of areas for which an additional survey is required.

Suggested Citation

  • Sung-Min Kim & Yosoon Choi, 2017. "Assessing Statistically Significant Heavy-Metal Concentrations in Abandoned Mine Areas via Hot Spot Analysis of Portable XRF Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:6:p:654-:d:101874
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hyeongyu Lee & Yosoon Choi & Jangwon Suh & Seung-Ho Lee, 2016. "Mapping Copper and Lead Concentrations at Abandoned Mine Areas Using Element Analysis Data from ICP–AES and Portable XRF Instruments: A Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Jangwon Suh & Hyeongyu Lee & Yosoon Choi, 2016. "A Rapid, Accurate, and Efficient Method to Map Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils of Abandoned Mine Sites Using Converted Portable XRF Data and GIS," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, December.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sung-Min Kim & Yosoon Choi, 2018. "SIMPL: A Simplified Model-Based Program for the Analysis and Visualization of Groundwater Rebound in Abandoned Mines to Prevent Contamination of Water and Soils by Acid Mine Drainage," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Efrain Vizuete-Jaramillo & Diana Meza-Figueroa & Pablo A. Reyes-Castro & Agustin Robles-Morua, 2022. "Using a Sensitivity Analysis and Spatial Clustering to Determine Vulnerability to Potentially Toxic Elements in a Semiarid City in Northwest Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.
    3. Fang Li & Anxiang Lu & Jihua Wang, 2017. "Modeling of Chromium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic and Lead Using Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Based on Discrete Wavelet Transform," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Dawon Kim & Yosoon Choi, 2022. "Application of Smart Glasses for Field Workers Performing Soil Contamination Surveys with Portable Equipment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.

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