All Issue

2024 Vol.57, Issue 4 Preview Page

Original research article

Monitoring cyanide in burnt tree residues and soil in areas affected by forest fires
Shin-Seol Jeon1†
,
Seok Soon Jeong2†
,
Jae E. Yang3
,
Jung-Hwan Yoon3
,
Hyuck Soo Kim3
,
Yong-Keon Shin1*
1Researchers, Kangwon Institute of Health & Environment, Chuncheon 24203, Korea
2Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
3Professors, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
30 November 2024. pp. 361-368
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

Forest biomass combustion deposits various chemical compounds onto the soil. Understanding these chemicals is crucial for effective post-fire management. This research investigated cyanide content through a forest fire simulation using leaves at different temperatures, as well as by analyzing combustion residues and soil collected from forest fire sites, in accordance with the Korean standard for the determination of cyanide in soil. The simulation burned leaves from seven common tree species in Korea at temperature of 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C using a muffle furnace. Cyanide content in the leaves from the simulation ranged from 2.55 to 16.60 mg kg-1. At three forest fire sites, cyanide contents ranged from 0.45 to 1.69 mg kg-1 in residues and from not detectable to 1.38 mg kg-1 in soils. Although the cyanide contents in the soil did not exceed the worrisome level (2 mg kg-1) for Region 2 of the Soil Environment Conservation Act, they were increased compared to control soil contents. These findings suggest that pollutants in fire residues may impact soil and water through runoff, emphasizing the need for environmental impact assessments and strategies to prevent residue transfer to water bodies.

Concentration of cyanide in the incinerated tree leaves in the forest fire simulation (a) and in combustion residues and soils taken from three forest fire sites (b).
Keywords
Coniferous & deciduous tree
Cyanide
Forest fire residue
Pollutant
Soil
References
1

Agbeshie AA, Abugre S, Atta-Darkwa T, Awuah R. 2022. A review of the effects of forest fire on soil properties. J. For. Res. 33:1419-1441. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-022-01475-4

10.1007/s11676-022-01475-4
2

Bae H, Choung S, Oh J, Jeong J. 2023. Groundwater and soil pollution caused by forest fires, and its effects on the distribution and transport of radionuclides in subsurface environments: review. Econ. Environ. Geol. 56(5):501-514. https://doi.org/10.9719/EEG.2023.56.5.501

10.9719/EEG.2023.56.5.501
3

Barber TR, Lutes CC, Doorn MRJ, Fuchsman PC, Timmenga HJ, Crouch RL. 2003. Aquatic ecological risks due to cyanide releases from biomass burning. Chemosphere. 50:343-348. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(02)00532-5

10.1016/S0045-6535(02)00532-512656253
4

Coggon MM, Veres PR, Yuan B, Koss A, Warneke C, Gilman JB, Lerner BM, Peischl J, Aikin KC, Stockwell CE et al. 2016. Emissions of nitrogen-containing organic compounds from the burning of herbaceous and arboraceous biomass: Fuel composition dependence and the variability of commonly used nitrile tracers. Geophys. Res. Lett. 43:9903-9912. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070562

10.1002/2016GL070562
5

DeBano LF, Conrad CE. 1978. The effect of fire on nutrients in a chaparral ecosystem. Ecology 59:489-497. https://doi.org/10.2307/1936579

10.2307/1936579
6

Eisler R, Wiemeyer SN. 2004. Cyanide hazards to plants and animals from gold mining and related water issues. Rev. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 183:21-54. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9100-3_2.

10.1007/978-1-4419-9100-3_215369321
7

Giménez-López J, Millera A, Bilbao R, Alzueta MU. 2010. HCN oxidation in an O2/CO2 atmosphere: an experimental and kinetic modeling study. Combust. Flame 157:267-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2009.07.016.

10.1016/j.combustflame.2009.07.016
8

Jaszczak E, Polkowska Ż, Narkowicz S, Namieśnik J. 2017. Cyanides in the environment-analysis-problems and challenges. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 24:15929-15948. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9081-7

10.1007/s11356-017-9081-728512706PMC5506515
9

Johansen MP, Hakonson TE, Breshears DD. 2001. Post-fire runoff and erosion from rainfall simulation: contrasting forests with shrublands and grasslands. Hydrol. Process. 15:2953-2965. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.384

10.1002/hyp.384
10

Johnson WR, Kang JC. 1971. Mechanisms of hydrogen cyanide formation from the pyrolysis of amino acids and related compounds. J. Org. Chem. 36:189-192. https://doi.org/10.1021/jo00800a038

10.1021/jo00800a0385543044
11

Ju F, Zhao X, Luan H, Lin J, Xiu G, Ling H. 2020. Effect of regeneration conditions on the emission of HCN in FCC regeneration process. Chem. Eng. J. 389:124484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.124484

10.1016/j.cej.2020.124484
12

Kim JK, Oh KC. 2001. Changes of chemical and microbial properties of soils after forest fires in coniferous and decicuous forests. J. Ecol. Environ. 24:1-7.

13

Korea Forest Service. 2022. 2021 Statistical yearbook of forest fire. Korea Forest Service, Daegu, Korea.

14

Korea Forest Service. 2023. 2022 Statistical yearbook of forest fire. Korea Forest Service, Daegu, Korea.

15

Manar R, Bonnar M, Rast C, Veber A, Vasseur P. 2011. Ecotoxicity of cyanide complexes in industrially contaminated soils. J. Hazard. Mater. 197:369-377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.09.095

10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.09.09522018867
16

Meeussen JCL, Keizer MG, Van Riemsdijk WH, De Haan FAM. 1992. Dissolution behavior of iron cyanide (Prussian blue) in contaminated soils. Environ. Sci. Technol. 26:1832-1838. https://doi.org/10.1021/es00033a019

10.1021/es00033a019
17

NIAST (National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology). 2000. Method of soil and plant analysis. RDA, Suwon, Korea.

18

Pereira P, Úbeda X, Martin DA. 2012. Fire severity effects on ash chemical composition and water-extractable elements. Geoderma 191:105-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.02.005

10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.02.005
19

Raison RJ. 1979. Modification of the soil environment by vegetation fires, with particular reference to nitrogen transformations: A review. Plant Soil. 51:73-108. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02205929

10.1007/BF02205929
20

Reich PB, Kloeppel BD, Ellsworth DS, Walters MB. 1995. Different photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in deciduous hardwood and evergreen coniferous tree species. Oecologia 104:24-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00365558

10.1007/BF0036555828306909
21

Reneau SL, Kataman D, Kuyumjian GA, Lavine A, Malmon DV. 2007. Sediment delivery after a wildfire. Geology 35:151-154. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23288A.1

10.1130/G23288A.1
22

Rybiński P, Syrek B, Szwed M, Bradło D, Żukowski W, Marzec A, Śliwka-Kaszyńska M. 2021. Influence of thermal decomposition of wood and wood-based materials on the state of the atmospheric air. Emissions of toxic compounds and greenhouse gases. Energies 14:3247. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14113247

10.3390/en14113247
23

Shin HW, Sidharthan M, Young KS. 2002. Forest fire ash impact on micro- and macroalgae in the receiving waters of the east coast of South Korea. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 45:203-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00156-X

10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00156-X12398386
24

VanderWeide BL, Hartnett DC. 2011. Fire resistance of tree species explains historical gallery forest community composition. For. Ecol. Manage. 261:1530-1538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.01.044

10.1016/j.foreco.2011.01.044
25

Wotton M, Gould JS, Taylor SW. 2012. Flame temperature and residence time of fires in dry eucalypt forest. Int. J. Wildland Fire 21:270-281. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF10127

10.1071/WF10127
26

Yang IT, Park JH, Chun KS. 2003. A study on soil loss in forest fire area. J. Korean Soc. for GIS. 11:11-16.

27

Zhang Y, Kim DJ, Cho HR, Seo YH, Lee HS, Kim SS. 2020. Effects of forest fire on the physicochemical properties of top soils of adjacent agricultural land. Koran J. Soil Sci. Fert. 53(2):200-208. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2020.53.2.200

10.7745/KJSSF.2020.53.2.200
Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국토양비료학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국토양비료학회 학회지
  • Volume : 57
  • No :4
  • Pages :361-368
  • Received Date : 2024-09-23
  • Revised Date : 2024-11-14
  • Accepted Date : 2024-11-16
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.4.361
Journal Informaiton Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
KJSSF Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close