Assessing the Presence of Heavy Metals in the Area of Glloogoc (Kosovo) by Using Mosses as a Bioindicator for Heavy Metals

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the level of pollution from heavy metals that are deposited from air in the area of Gllogoc. The main goal was to identify the emission sources of pollution by using mosses as bio indicators. In this study area, the mining of Fe-Ni (Industrial Ferronickel Complex) is believed to strongly influence the level of heavy metals. The mining and production activity of Fe-Ni affects the soil, water and air. As the air pollution (from liberated aerosols of Industrial Ferronickel Complex) and the deposition products of this pollution are harmful not only locally but also can pollute the environmental at extended distances, the use of mosses allows analyzing the content and origin of the pollution from heavy metals. ICP was used for the determination of heavy metals in moss samples. The use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), dendograms and other statistical procedures, permitted to understand the source of the air pollution from heavy metals.

Determination of Heavy Metals in Bee Honey as a Bioindicator in the Istog, Drenas and Kastriot Regions

“…Currently, the following are the main sources of air pollution in the municipality of Istog [REC., 2017]: traffic-transport with old motor vehicles, largely without catalysts, light industry, generators, then open municipal landfills with methane and CO 2 , landfills of damaged automobiles, scrap collecting dumps, and various operators. On the territory of the municipality of Drenas, significant metal, non-metallic, lead-zinc, iron-nickel, magnesite, and bauxite deposits have emerged as a result of various geological processes [Bajraktari et al, 2019], which play an important role in the Kosovo economy and also have an extremely large effect on environmental pollution.…”

“…The impact of coal mining as a raw material for power plants in Kastriot, including mining basins where excavators dig, conveyor belts, precombustion, and disposal operations, all of which are sources of gas-dust pollution and coal particles in the air, water, and land surfaces, [4,5]. The discharge of gases, such as CO, CO 2 , NO X , N 2 O, SO, SO 2 [Bajraktari et al, 2019, as well as other air particles in the form of dust from the ash of fossil fuels, such as coal, which also include heavy metals from the "Kosovo" power plants, are possible polluters. In addition to key metals, like zinc, copper, manganese, and chromium that are required for human health and development, honey also gathers trace elements including cadmium, nickel, and lead [Pohl et al, 2012].…”

The ecological risk of contamination with toxic metals in soils around the trepça complex, the Kosovo thermal power plants, and a new co ferronickeli complex

“…Because of the toxic waste left over from mining, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, heavy metal pollution of agricultural soil is a severe ecological problem [1,2]. Heavy metal concentrations in the soil rise because of repeated use of manure and chemical fertilizers [3].…”

“…While some heavy metals are essential for plant growth, others, when absorbed and stored by plants, can be hazardous to humans if consumed [4]. _________________________ 1 University of Pristina, "Hasan Prishtina", Faculty of Mathematical Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Pristine, Kosovo, corresponding author S. Demaku, email address skender.demaku@hotmail.com 2 University of Pristina, "Hasan Prishtina", Faculty of Education, Pristine, Kosovo. 3 University of Tirana, Faculty of History and Philology, Department of Geography, Tirana, Albania.…”

“…Fe, Zn, Ni, Pb, Mn, Cr, and As concentrations in agricultural land in rural Mitrovica, Obilic, and Gllogoc areas were found to be higher than 1.0 mg/kg [5,6]. There is still a serious problem with toxic metal poisoning of the biosphere, which started with the industrial revolution and urbanization [2][3][4][5].…”