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 is a very convenient method as it uses natural samples, and thus avoids many difficulties associated with man-made samplers. Nine heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, 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 near 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. The contamination factor (CF) and the polluted load index (PLI) were calculated. CF showed that only Mn, Cu, and Zn, had no or almost no contamination no contamination levels over the range of moss samples, while Cd and particularly Pb gave extremely high values for CF, indicating extreme contamination levels. Pollution load index also showed that only a few samples are slightly polluted, while most of the samples shown considerable and very high levels of pollution.