Arsenic in Surface Soils Affected by Mining and Metallurgical Processing in K. Mitrovica Region, Kosovo

The results of a study on the spatial distribution of arsenic in topsoil (0–5 cm) over the K. Mitrovica region, Kosovo, are reported. The investigated region (300 km2) was covered by a sampling grid of 1.4 km × 1.4 km. In total, 159 soil samples were collected from 149 locations. Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of arsenic levels. It was found that the average content of arsenic in the topsoil for the entire study area was 30 mg/kg (from 2.1 to 3,900 mg/kg) which exceeds the estimated European arsenic average in topsoil by a factor of 4.3. Contents of arsenic in the topsoil exceeded the optimum value recommended by the new Dutchlist (29 mg/kg As) in 124 km2. The action value (55 mg/kg As) was exceeded in 64 km2, with the average content of 105 mg/kg (from 55 to 3,900 mg/kg As)

Variability assessment of metals distributions due to anthropogenic and geogenic impact in the lead-zinc mine and flotation „Zletovo” environs (moss biomonitoring)

Moss species (Hypnum cupressiforme, Scleropodium purum and Campthotecium lutescens) wereused as suitable sampling media for biomonitoring the origin of heavy metal pollution in the lead–zinc mine and flotationenviron near the town of Probištip. The 21 metals contents were determined by atomic emission spectrometrywith inductively coupled plasma (ICP–AES). Data processing was applied with combinations of multivariate statisticalmethods: factor analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The main anthropogenic markersin the investigated area were Pb and Zn (maximal values of 200 and 186 mg kg–1, respectively). The factor analysissingled out (in the increasing scale) the following associations: F1/D1: Fe < Mo < Pb < Na < Cd < Mg < Zn < Ag <Cu and F2/D2: Mn < Ni < K < P < Ba < Sr < Ca < As < Cr < Al < V < Li. The anthropogenic elements contents varyindependent from the moss species, but depending on the distancing from the pollution source, there are positive correlation.Long distance distribution from the emission source doesn’t occur

Determination of Some Chemical Elements at Milk, at Three City in Macedonia (Kumanovo, Tetovo, Gostivar)

The aim of this research was to evaluate the possible contamination by heavy metals of milk from cows in Macedonia. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined in cow milk from the different farms, at three city (Kumanovo, Tetovo, Gotivar)in Macedonia. Each sample, homogenized and powdered, was mineralized in a microwave oven. Quantitative analyses of Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb were performed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with graphite furnace; As was analyzed by hot vapor generation technique and Zn with the flame method. The concentration of many metals is low (\u3c0.1 mg/kg) such as: As,Co, Cd, Cr, Cu,Fe, Pb, and Zn

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

Moss biomonitoring of air pollution and assessment of the effects on archeological objects in Stobi, North Macedonia

The contents of 33 elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Pd, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn) were determined in moss samples collected from 20 different locations in the ancient town of Stobi, North Macedonia. Determination was performed by the application of inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave digestion. It was found that the median values for the content of macroelements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg) and for some specific trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in moss samples from the Stobi site are higher to those obtained for the moss samples collected from the whole territory of North Macedonia. This significant increase in the contents of these elements is especially noticeable in the samples of moss taken from the monuments in Stobi, whose substrate is the mortar between lime and sandstones or sandstone, and in some cases when the substrate is a marble. Similar behavior has been observed also from the data for the median and the range of the content of these elements in the six moss samples collected from the wider vicinity of Stobi which have a noticeable increase in the median values of Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, Ni, Sr, and Zn compared to the median for the samples taken from the entire territory of North Macedonia. It was concluded that the contamination of the moss samples from Stobi, apart from the substrate from which they were taken, is also affected by the distribution of dust from the surrounding soils, in which the content of elements with increased contents is significantly higher than the average for soils from the entire territory of North Macedonia

Moss biomonitoring of air pollution and assessment of the effects on archeological objects in Stobi, North Macedonia

The contents of 33 elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Pd, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn) were determined in moss samples collected from 20 different locations in the ancient town of Stobi, North Macedonia. Determination was performed by the application of inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave digestion. It was found that the median values for the content of macroelements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg) and for some specific trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in moss samples from the Stobi site are higher to those obtained for the moss samples collected from the whole territory of North Macedonia. This significant increase in the contents of these elements is especially noticeable in the samples of moss taken from the monuments in Stobi, whose substrate is the mortar between lime and sandstones or sandstone, and in some cases when the substrate is a marble. Similar behavior has been observed also from the data for the median and the range of the content of these elements in the six moss samples collected from the wider vicinity of Stobi which have a noticeable increase in the median values of Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, Ni, Sr, and Zn compared to the median for the samples taken from the entire territory of North Macedonia. It was concluded that the contamination of the moss samples from Stobi, apart from the substrate from which they were taken, is also affected by the distribution of dust from the surrounding soils, in which the content of elements with increased contents is significantly higher than the average for soils from the entire territory of North Macedonia

Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in North Macedonia from 2002 to 2010 studied by Moss biomonitoring technique

CITATION: Barandovski, L. et al. 2020. Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in North Macedonia from 2002 to 2010 studied by Moss biomonitoring technique. Atmosphere, 11(9):929, doi:10.3390/atmos11090929.The original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.comMoss biomonitoring technique was used for a heavy-metal pollution study in Macedonia in the framework of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (UNECE IPC Vegetation). Moss samples (n = 72) were collected during the summers of 2002, 2005, and 2010. The contents of 41 elements were determined by neutron activation analysis, atomic absorption spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Using factor and cluster analyses, three geogenic factors were determined (Factor 1, including Al, As, Co, Cs, Fe, Hf, Na, Rb, Sc, Ta, Th, Ti, U, V, Zr, and rare-earth elements–RE; Factor 4 with Ba, K, and Sr; and Factor 5 with Br and I), one anthropogenic factor (Factor 2, including Cd, Pb, Sb, and Zn), and one geogenic-anthropogenic factor (Factor 3, including Cr and Ni). The highest anthropogenic impact of heavy metal to the air pollution in the country was from the ferronickel smelter near Kavadraci (Ni and Cr), the lead and zinc mines in the vicinity of Makedonska Kamenica, Probištip, and Kriva Palanka in the eastern part of the country (Cd, Pb, and Zn), and the former lead and zinc smelter plant in Veles. Beside the anthropogenic influences, the lithology and the composition of the soil also play an important role in the distribution of the elements.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/9/929Publisher's versio

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

Origin and spatial distribution of metals in moss samples in Albania: a hotspot of heavy metal contamination in Europe

This study presents the spatial distribution of 37 elements in 48 moss samples collected over the whole territory of Albania and provides information on sources and factors controlling the concentrations of elements in the moss. High variations of trace metals indicate that the concentrations of elements are affected by different factors. Relations between the elements in moss, geochemical interpretation of the data, and secondary effects such as redox conditions generated from local soil and/or long distance atmospheric transport of the pollutants are discussed. Zr normalized data, and the ratios of different elements are calculated to assess the origin of elements present in the current moss samples with respect to different geogenic and anthropogenic inputs. Factor analysis (FA) is used to identify the most probable sources of the elements. Four dominant factors are identified, i.e. natural contamination;dust emission from local mining operations; atmospheric transport of contaminants from local and long distance sources; and contributions from air borne marine salts. Mineral particle dust from local emission sources is classified as the most important factor affecting the atmospheric deposition of elements accumulated in the current moss samples. The open slag dumps of mining operation in Albania is probably the main factor contributing to high contents of Cr, Ni, Fe, Ti and Al in the moss. Enrichment factors (EF) were calculated to clarify whether the elements in the present moss samples mainly originate from atmospheric deposition and/or local substrate materials

Spatially valid data of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and nitrogen derived by moss surveys for pollution risk assessments of ecosystems

For analysing element input into ecosystems and associated risks due to atmospheric deposition, element concentrations in moss provide complementary and time-integrated data at high spatial resolution every 5 years since 1990. The paper reviews (1) minimum sample sizes needed for reliable, statistical estimation of mean values at four different spatial scales (European and national level as well as landscape-specific level covering Europe and single countries); (2) trends of heavy metal (HM) and nitrogen (N) concentrations in moss in Europe (1990–2010); (3) correlations between concentrations of HM in moss and soil specimens collected across Norway (1990–2010); and (4) canopy drip-induced site-specific variation of N concentration in moss sampled in seven European countries (1990–2013). While the minimum sample sizes on the European and national level were achieved without exception, for some ecological land classes and elements, the coverage with sampling sites should be improved. The decline in emission and subsequent atmospheric deposition of HM across Europe has resulted in decreasing HM concentrations in moss between 1990 and 2010. In contrast, hardly any changes were observed for N in moss between 2005, when N was included into the survey for the first time, and 2010. In Norway, both, the moss and the soil survey data sets, were correlated, indicating a decrease of HM concentrations in moss and soil. At the site level, the average N deposition inside of forests was almost three times higher than the average N deposition outside of forests