Chapter 9
Conclusions
Pranvera Lazo, Flora Qarri, Shaniko Allajbeu, Sonila Kane, Lirim Bekteshi,
Marina Frontasyeva, and Trajce Stafilov
This study established the first moss biomonitoring of trace metals atmospheric
deposition in Albania. It showed the TM contents in moss samples were affected
by long-range transport of the pollutant and by the local emission sources derived
by local natural and anthropogenic factors. It provided important information data
of the baseline level of the elements. The concentration level of trace metal atmospheric deposition in Albania was compared with the neighboring countries and in
a wider scale with the European countries. These data could be utilized for future
biomonitoring research in atmospheric deposition of metals in Albania.
The moss survey data and the applied statistical analysis in combination with
GIS technique produced a detailed and up-to-date coverage of trace metals in moss
samples that directly indicate the metal atmospheric deposition of Albania. Through
the maps of metal concentration data, it was possible to predict the spatial extinction
of the areas with high metal concentrations where the local factors were suggested
to be monitored and to control the potential threats from metal depositions. Based on
the maps of metal concentration on moss samples it was also possible to investigate
the differentiation between the backgrounds and the anthropogenic pollution of the
study areas.
The local emission sources and long-range atmospheric transport show a significant contribution to atmospheric deposition of metals in Albania. Soil dust fine
particles were pointed as the main source of most trace metals in moss samples. The
presence of lithogenic and crustal elements (Yb, Sc, Ta, Ce, La, Th, Nd, Hf, U, Sm,
Zr, Mn, W, Co, Ti, Al, Li, Sr, V, Fe, Ba and As) in moss samples indicate the effect
of long-range transport of the pollutants combined with local geochemical factors of
wind blowing soil dust fine particles that produce some local differentiation of these
elements along the country. Based on the moss elements concentration and the spatial
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
P. Lazo et al., The Evaluation of Air Quality in Albania by Moss Biomonitoring and Metals
Atmospheric Deposition, SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62355-5_9
97
Conclusions
Pranvera Lazo, Flora Qarri, Shaniko Allajbeu, Sonila Kane, Lirim Bekteshi,
Marina Frontasyeva, and Trajce Stafilov
This study established the first moss biomonitoring of trace metals atmospheric
deposition in Albania. It showed the TM contents in moss samples were affected
by long-range transport of the pollutant and by the local emission sources derived
by local natural and anthropogenic factors. It provided important information data
of the baseline level of the elements. The concentration level of trace metal atmospheric deposition in Albania was compared with the neighboring countries and in
a wider scale with the European countries. These data could be utilized for future
biomonitoring research in atmospheric deposition of metals in Albania.
The moss survey data and the applied statistical analysis in combination with
GIS technique produced a detailed and up-to-date coverage of trace metals in moss
samples that directly indicate the metal atmospheric deposition of Albania. Through
the maps of metal concentration data, it was possible to predict the spatial extinction
of the areas with high metal concentrations where the local factors were suggested
to be monitored and to control the potential threats from metal depositions. Based on
the maps of metal concentration on moss samples it was also possible to investigate
the differentiation between the backgrounds and the anthropogenic pollution of the
study areas.
The local emission sources and long-range atmospheric transport show a significant contribution to atmospheric deposition of metals in Albania. Soil dust fine
particles were pointed as the main source of most trace metals in moss samples. The
presence of lithogenic and crustal elements (Yb, Sc, Ta, Ce, La, Th, Nd, Hf, U, Sm,
Zr, Mn, W, Co, Ti, Al, Li, Sr, V, Fe, Ba and As) in moss samples indicate the effect
of long-range transport of the pollutants combined with local geochemical factors of
wind blowing soil dust fine particles that produce some local differentiation of these
elements along the country. Based on the moss elements concentration and the spatial
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
P. Lazo et al., The Evaluation of Air Quality in Albania by Moss Biomonitoring and Metals
Atmospheric Deposition, SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62355-5_9
97