This study represents the first systematic investigation of the spatial distribution of different chemical elements in the soil cover of the Pelagonia region, Republic of Macedonia. For this purpose, 262 soil samples (from 131 locations) were analyzed to determine the content of 17 major and trace elements in the soil from this region and to assess the size of the area eventually affected by heavy metal pollution. All samples were analyzed by atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). Cluster and factor analysis (R-mode) were applied in order to show the associations of chemical elements. Three factors were obtained. Factor 1 (Al, Ba, Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni, P and V), Factor 2 (Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) and Factor 3 (Ca and Sr). It was established that the distribution of these associations are mostly as a result of the complex geology and lithology of the region.
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