Variation of Copper Content in Paddy Soil and Rice from Janghang Smelter Area

To investigate differences in Cu contents in paddy soils and rices, being affected by air pollutants from the Janghang Smelter, soil samples at the different directions and surface (0-15cm) and subsurface (15-30cm) were collected in 1982 and 1990, and rice plants at the soil corresponding sampling sites in 1990 were also at separately collected from the Janghang Smelter area. Soil samples were extracted with and plant samples were digested with a mixture of and for analyzing Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The Cu contents in soils ranged from 5.1 to 391.0 mg . The average content of Cu in 1990 was higher than that in 1982. The Cu content in soils nearer to the center of the smelter was higher than that farther from the center. The Cu content was highest at the east direction, and was in order of east > north-north east = north east > north. The variation of Cu levels in soil at east sites was more considerable than other directions. The Cu level in surface soils was higher than that in subsurface soils. The Cu contaminated area was within 5 km at east, and 3 km at north-north east and north east. A significant correlation was found between Cu content in surface soils of 1982 and that in surface and subsurface soils of 1990, and between Cu content in soils and soil properties such as organic matter(OM), available phosphate, available silicate, exchangeable and in 1982. The Cu content in brown rice ranged from 0.4 to 3.6 mg , and was the lowest in parts of rice plant, and Cu content in a part of plant was 13.75 times higher than that in brown rice. The Cu content of leaf sheath, stem and brown rice was correlated with the levels of Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb in soils. The Cu content in soil regardless of years and soil depths was correlated with Zn and Pb in soil in the area affected by waste gas.