Evaluation of the water quality of the Shkumbini river in the Elbasan area

River is one of the main rivers with a length of 181 km. The watershed of this river (2445 km), includes the eastern and central part of Albania, and is characterized by forested areas. Part of the water is collected from deforested areas with high erosion. Natural factors (erosion) are dominant in the upper stream of the river, contributing to the values of TSS and different metals. But the anthropogenic factor, which is related to urban emissions and industrial activities, has a big impact. This happens in the middle stream of the river flow (Elbasan field). For this purpose, the water quality of the Shkumbini river was monitored for 4 years (2017-2020) in two stations (Labinot and Paper). Ten physico-chemical parameters. pH, Total hardness (TH), Nitrite (NO-2) , Nitrate (NO-3), Chloride (Cl-), Alkalinity, TSS and TDS, DO and Conductivity (EC) were analyzed and compared with WHO standard values and NIVA classification. The evaluation shows that we have an impact of human and industrial activity on the river waters. Determining the level of anthropogenic pollution is very important since about 28,000 ha of agricultural land is irrigated by this river

The effect of sampling scheme in the survey of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in Albania by using moss biomonitoring

The atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in Albania was investigated by using a carpet-forming moss species (Hypnum cupressiforme) as bioindicator. Sampling was done in the dry seasons of autumn 2010 and summer 2011. Two different sampling schemes are discussed in this paper: a random sampling scheme with 62 sampling sites distributed over the whole territory of Albania and systematic sampling scheme with 44 sampling sites distributed over the same territory. Unwashed, dried samples were totally digested by using microwave digestion, and the concentrations of metal elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and AAS (Cd and As). Twelve elements, such as conservative and trace elements (Al and Fe and As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, V, Zn, and Li), were measured in moss samples. Li as typical lithogenic element is also included. The results reflect local emission points. The median concentrations and statistical parameters of elements were discussed by comparing two sampling schemes. The results of both sampling schemes are compared with the results of other European countries. Different levels of the contamination valuated by the respective contamination factor (CF) of each element are obtained for both sampling schemes, while the local emitters identified like ironchromium metallurgy and cement industry, oil refinery, mining industry, and transport have been the same for both sampling schemes. In addition, the natural sources, from the accumulation of these metals in mosses caused by metalenriched soil, associated withwind blowing soils were pointed as another possibility of local emitting factors

Spatial distribution and temporal trend of airborne trace metal deposition in Albania studied by moss biomonitoring

This study describes the assessment of air quality in Albania using moss biomonitoring. The moss species, Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw) sps., was used in this study. Mosses were collected during August and September 2015 at 55 sampling sites more or less homogeneously distributed over the entire territory of the country. The spatial distribution and temporal trends of trace metal atmospheric deposition were studied through the determinationof twenty inorganic elements, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn. ICP-AES, AAS (As and Cd) and CV AAS (Hg) analysis were used to determine the concentration of the elements. The obtained data show significant differences in the spatial distribution of the elements derived from different emission sources. High emission loads of anthropogenic elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, As and Zn) were detected in the East, and of sea salt elements, particularly Na and K, in the Western coastal line. The distribution trend of the trace metals was studied by comparing the current data with the data of a similar study performed in 2010. Due to the differences in airborne metal concentrations, their scavenging ratios from the atmosphere to the terrestrial ecosystems, and their different uptake-leaching rates during wet and dry deposition respectively of 2015 and 2010 moss grown period, different concentration levels were found in 2010 and 2015 moss metal concentrations. The 2015 moss concentration levels of anthropogenic elements Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Zn and Na had increased, while K, Mg and Hg moss concentration data had declined. Other elements show non significant differences in mosses of both monitoring periods. The contamination levels that were evaluated by calculating the contamination factor (CF) for each element provided similar results for the 2015 and 2010 moss survey. Factor analysis (FA) was applied to identify the possible sources of elements in the 2015 moss samples. Five dominant factors were identified representing longrange and local atmospheric transport of wind-blown soil dust particles (F1); local emission from chromium industry and wind-blown mineral dust particles (F2); anthropogenic sources of traffic emission and wind-blown fine mineral dust particles derived from geogenic origin natural transport from the marine environment (F4); and long-range atmospheric deposition (F5). This study emphasis that moss biomonitoring combined with data analysis and inventory of emission sources are important tools to assess air quality in Albania

Toxicity tests using living organisms

Toxic chemicals pose a serious and continuous risk for specific parts of the food chain, leading to the extinction of different communities. The effects of toxins might be direct or indirect. The sub lethal effects lead to the change of the behavior of an organism. The acute or chronic tests might be performed for water or terrestrial organisms, according to the OECD standards, in different levels of the food chain and thus it is possible to predict the pollution effect in the ecosystem. This study has taken in consideration the acute and chronic tests using Daphnia sp. The goal of the research is the behavior evaluation of these organisms, common inhabitants of water systems, towards the change of the concentration of different chemicals. These organisms are taken from their natural habitat and then raised in laboratory conditions, in accordance with their natural habitat needs. Acute tests are performed using different concentrations of specific chemicals. Physical-chemical parameters of their natural water habitat are taken in consideration as well. The experimental laboratory data are then elaborated in order to determine the highest concentration of the tested chemical that shows adverse effects on Daphnia population, as well as the lowest concentration with no effect. The laboratory results are evaluated and compared with other similar studies

Drinking water quality determination through the water pollution indicators, Elbasan district

Today's drinking water supply in the Elbasan district continues to be an issue of concern. The population growth nowadays is accompanied by the increase of request for water use. To complete their needs, people have chosen to use groundwater by opening wells. Having their personal well does not guarantee water safety. The aim of this paper is to determine the quality of drinking water through coliform bacteria indicators, in Elbasan district. There are three groups of coliform bacteria, total coliform, intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli. Each of these is an indicator of drinking water quality and each has a different level of risk. In this study are analyzed many water samples taken from villages Labinot fushë, Gjergjan, Papër, Shushicë, and Bradashesh. In some of these villages, the water samples are taken from wells and pipes. The total coliform, E. coli, and intestinal enterococci in drinking water of these villages are reflected in this study. The data recorded shows which of the analyzed water sources are within the international standards to be used as drinking water. The coliform pollution levels are higher in the wells water than in the pipes one. The distant areas from the city of Elbasan are more polluted than those nearby

Multi-elements atmospheric deposition study in Albania

For the first time, the moss biomonitoring technique and inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometric (ICP-AES) analytical technique were applied to study multi-element atmospheric deposition in Albania. Moss samples (Hypnum cupressiforme) were collected during the summer of 2011 and September–October 2010 from 62 sites, evenly distributed over the country. Sampling was performed in accordance with the LRTAP Convention–ICP Vegetation protocol and sampling strategy of the European Programme on Biomonitoring of Heavy Metal Atmospheric Deposition. ICP-AES analysis made it possible to determine concentrations of 19 elements including key toxic metals such as Pb, Cd, As, and Cu. Cluster and factor analysis with varimax rotation was applied to distinguish elements mainly of anthropogenic origin from those predominantly originating from natural sources. Geographical distribution maps of the elements over the sampled territory were constructed using GIS technology. The median values of the elements in moss samples of Albania were high for Al, Cr, Ni, Fe, and Vand low for Cd, Cu, and Zn compared to other European countries, but generally were of a similar level as some of the neighboring countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania. This study was conducted in the framework of ICP Vegetation in order to provide a reliable assessment of air quality throughout Albania and to produce information needed for better identification of contamination sources and improving the potential for assessing environmental and health risks in Albania, associated with toxic metals