98
P. Lazo et al.
distributions maps produced for the whole territory of Albania, it was found that the
moss metal distribution of Albania shows diverse patterns for different elements by
presenting diverse geographical variability in moss metal concentrations.
The content of the elements Al, Fe, Cr, Ni, and V were higher, and the concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb were lower in moss samples of Albania compared with those
of the most European countries. The eastern part of Albania could be classified as a
highly polluted area from anthropogenic elements derived mostly by geological and
anthropogenic emission sources that may affect the crop cultivation for human or
animal consumption that may accumulate trace metals and thus may pose a risk to
humans and animals health. It was found that the western agricultural land area could
be considered as a safer area for food production. The anthropogenic sources of the
elements are likely higher than their natural background. Significant geographical
differences were found in the concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in
moss samples.
The examination of the distribution profile and the pollution levels of the potential
anthropogenic elements that pose a high risk to the human health (Sb, Zn, Hg, Pb,
Cd, Cu) pointed out the traffic emission, oil and gas industry, shipping activity in
the coastal areas, geochemical and geological factors, long-range transport and the
emission from metallurgy as the most probable sources of these elements in moss
samples and in atmospheric deposition over the territory of Albania.
Very high contents of Ni and Cr in moss samples were mostly derived from local
factors and lower from the long-range atmospheric transport of these elements. High
correlations of these elements with Mg and Co indicate their similar behavior and
similar associations between Ni, Cr, Co and Mg in moss and in the atmospheric
deposition of Albania. All these elements are typical elements present in chromites
and nickel ores and are probably derived from mining industry, ferro-chromium and
ferro-nickel metallurgy, from geogenic origin and wind-blown mineral dust particles
of mine wastes.
The presence, the behavior and the relations between the most important marine
tracer elements, Cl and Na, in moss samples may indicate the effects of the sea
spray and seawater of Adriatic and Ionian coastal areas positioned in the western
part of Albania. Beside the important contributions of sea sprays and seawater for
Na
+ and Cl
− in coastal regions, the natural sources of Na
+ and Cl
− that include the
atmospheric deposition, interactions between water and soil, rocks, brines and salt
deposits showed a strong affect derived by different local factors such as anthropogenic sources and geogenic factors which could contribute to the increase of Na
and Cl contents in moss samples. On the other hand, the heterogeneous reactions
with acidic gaseous and other reactive species in the marine environment, as well
as the geographical positions of sampling sites may contribute to the decline of Cl
content in moss samples.
The differences founded at the spatial distributions of the sea spray elements (Na,
Cl, K, Br, I, Mg, and P) in moss samples indicate the effects of geographical properties
of the moss sampling sites, and the local natural and anthropogenic contributions of
these elements. On the other hand, the decreased contribution of sea-salt aerosols as
the distance from the coastal line increased is probably linked with the increasing
P. Lazo et al.
distributions maps produced for the whole territory of Albania, it was found that the
moss metal distribution of Albania shows diverse patterns for different elements by
presenting diverse geographical variability in moss metal concentrations.
The content of the elements Al, Fe, Cr, Ni, and V were higher, and the concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb were lower in moss samples of Albania compared with those
of the most European countries. The eastern part of Albania could be classified as a
highly polluted area from anthropogenic elements derived mostly by geological and
anthropogenic emission sources that may affect the crop cultivation for human or
animal consumption that may accumulate trace metals and thus may pose a risk to
humans and animals health. It was found that the western agricultural land area could
be considered as a safer area for food production. The anthropogenic sources of the
elements are likely higher than their natural background. Significant geographical
differences were found in the concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in
moss samples.
The examination of the distribution profile and the pollution levels of the potential
anthropogenic elements that pose a high risk to the human health (Sb, Zn, Hg, Pb,
Cd, Cu) pointed out the traffic emission, oil and gas industry, shipping activity in
the coastal areas, geochemical and geological factors, long-range transport and the
emission from metallurgy as the most probable sources of these elements in moss
samples and in atmospheric deposition over the territory of Albania.
Very high contents of Ni and Cr in moss samples were mostly derived from local
factors and lower from the long-range atmospheric transport of these elements. High
correlations of these elements with Mg and Co indicate their similar behavior and
similar associations between Ni, Cr, Co and Mg in moss and in the atmospheric
deposition of Albania. All these elements are typical elements present in chromites
and nickel ores and are probably derived from mining industry, ferro-chromium and
ferro-nickel metallurgy, from geogenic origin and wind-blown mineral dust particles
of mine wastes.
The presence, the behavior and the relations between the most important marine
tracer elements, Cl and Na, in moss samples may indicate the effects of the sea
spray and seawater of Adriatic and Ionian coastal areas positioned in the western
part of Albania. Beside the important contributions of sea sprays and seawater for
Na
+ and Cl
− in coastal regions, the natural sources of Na
+ and Cl
− that include the
atmospheric deposition, interactions between water and soil, rocks, brines and salt
deposits showed a strong affect derived by different local factors such as anthropogenic sources and geogenic factors which could contribute to the increase of Na
and Cl contents in moss samples. On the other hand, the heterogeneous reactions
with acidic gaseous and other reactive species in the marine environment, as well
as the geographical positions of sampling sites may contribute to the decline of Cl
content in moss samples.
The differences founded at the spatial distributions of the sea spray elements (Na,
Cl, K, Br, I, Mg, and P) in moss samples indicate the effects of geographical properties
of the moss sampling sites, and the local natural and anthropogenic contributions of
these elements. On the other hand, the decreased contribution of sea-salt aerosols as
the distance from the coastal line increased is probably linked with the increasing