Mingi Ko, Jieyoung Kim, Young-Woo Chun, Nayoung Do, Yoon Joo Byun, Rog-Young Kim, Moonsu Kim, Ji-In Kim
Metal(loid)s contamination from abandoned mines presents long-term environmental risk. Topography strongly influences pollutant distribution across soils, sediments, and water; however, its differential effects in each medium and the role of remediation dams remain inadequately characterized. This study aimed to analyze the topographic characteristics of Deoksan mine, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea; identify the dominant factors controlling metal(loid)s distribution in different environmental media; and examine the impact of a remediation dam on these distributions. Statistical and geospatial analyses were performed on field data from various environmental media (soil, sediment, and water). The topographic data revealed variations in elevation, slope, and flow accumulation at the sampling sites, providing a basis for interpreting contaminant pathways. Metal(loid)s in the soil (As, Cd, Pb, and Zn) were positively correlated with elevation (ρ = 0.32-0.61) but negatively correlated with flow accumulation, consistent with contamination from mine waste deposits located at higher elevations and subsequent downslope transport. Metal(loid)s in the sediments exhibited weak negative correlations with elevation (ρ = -0.38 to -0.53) and positive correlations with flow accumulation, suggesting that downstream convergence zones may function as sinks for mobilized metal(loid)s. Water showed weaker topographic control, with metal(loid)s fluctuations largely driven by colloidal input during rainfall events. The remediation dam reduced key metal(loid)s in downstream sediments but also functioned as a secondary source, redistributing mobile fractions. Thus, topography and anthropogenic inputs jointly govern metal(loid)s distribution, while remediation structures can simultaneously mitigate and redistribute contaminants, highlighting the need for integrated management strategies in mining-impacted environments.