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

Abstract

Article (refereed) -postprintQarri, Flora; Lazo, Pranvera; Bekteshi, Lirim; Stafilov, Trajce; Frontasyeva, Marina; Harmens, Harry. 2015. The effect of sampling scheme in the survey of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in Albania by using moss biomonitoring. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22 (3). 2258-2271. 10.1007/s11356-014-3417-3 Contact CEH NORA team at noraceh@ceh.ac.ukThe NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. 1The effect of sampling scheme in the survey of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in Albania by using moss biomonitoring AbstractThe 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 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 ICP-AES and AAS (Cd and As). 12 elements, such as conservative and trace elements (Al, Fe and As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, V, Zn, 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 with wind blowing soils was pointed as another possibility of local emitting factors.

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

“…Moss biomonitoring in Albania started in 2010/2011 when researchers from Albania joined the European Moss Survey conducted within the framework of the International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops, ICP Vegetation (Harmens et al, 2013). Heavy metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, V) in 2010/2011 moss samples of Albania have been reported in several publications (Qarri et al, 2013;2014a;2014b;Bekteshi et al, 2015;Allajbeu et al, 2016a;2016b). The present paper reports on concentrations of 37 elements, their spatial distributions in 2010/2011 moss samples, and possible contributions from different sources and processes.…”

“…M. Fleisch (the latter only at two sampling sites) were collected in 2010/2011 from 48 sampling sites evenly distributed over Albania. A systematic sampling scheme was used (Qarri et al, 2014b). The moss sampling procedure and the preparation of the material for elemental analysis was done according to the guidelines described in the protocol for the 2010 European moss survey (Harmens et al, 2010b).…”

Elemental composition of moss and lichen species in eastern Serbia

“…This agrees with the gen eral spa tial pat tern of heavy met als in mosses -an in crease from North west to South east Eu rope [41], whereby in Al ba nia a high con tent of heavy met als is de tected. Thus, in mosses col lected dur ing years 2010-2011, the me dian val ues of As, Cr, Ni, Al, and Fe were higher in Al ba nia than in the rest of Eu rope [42], which was in flu enced, to some ex tent, by the re gional in dus trial ac tiv i ties [43]. There were two ex cep tions, how ever -ar senic and mer cury in our study (tab.…”

Using Mosses as Bioindicators of Potentially Toxic Element Contamination in Ecologically Valuable Areas Located in the Vicinity of a Road: A Case Study

“…However, when high concentrations of acidifying gases and precipitation occur at the same time, the bioaccumulation of more readily soluble ionic potentially toxic elements forms increases. P. schreberi mosses have also been rather widely used in biomonitoring research worldwide: in Albania [18], China [19], Finland [20], North America [21], Sweden [15], the Ural region [22], Canada [23], and Poland [24,25,26]. However, long-term monitoring studies with mosses are not frequently performed.…”