Determination And Statistical Analysis of Atmospheric Deposition of Heavy Metals In Kosovo. A Moss Survey

Abstract

Atmospheric deposition of heavy metals on the territory of Kosovo was studied using the already widely used technique of mosses as biomonitors. This method is very convenient as it uses natural samples and thus avoids many difficulties associated with artificial samplers. Eight heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined in 45 moss samples. Statistical analysis was performed to better present and explain the data. High concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd, and Ni were found near industrial sites and in more densely populated areas. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified more polluted sites such as Zveqan, Stanterg, Prapashticë, Siboc, and Lupç. It was also found that Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Ni are the heavy metals that affect these polluted sites the most. High contents of Cd were found in Kaçanik and Paldemicë, Te Kalaja, Çikatovë, and Shalc, all sampling points found around industrial sights. The contamination factor (CF) and the polluted load index (PLI) were calculated. CF showed that only Cu, and Zn, had no or almost no contamination levels over the range of moss samples, while Cd and mainly Pb gave extremely high values for CF, indicating extreme contamination levels. The pollution load index also showed that only a few samples were slightly polluted, while most samples showed considerable and very high pollution levels.