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
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 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, are the most probable sources of these
elements in moss samples and in atmospheric deposition over the territory of
Albania.
The presence, the behavior and the relations between the most important marine
tracer elements, Cl and Na, in moss samples indicate the effects of the marine
environment and sea spry aerosol. 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 contribution of tropospheric aerosol, and/or with the effect
Abstract
xv
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
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 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, are the most probable sources of these
elements in moss samples and in atmospheric deposition over the territory of
Albania.
The presence, the behavior and the relations between the most important marine
tracer elements, Cl and Na, in moss samples indicate the effects of the marine
environment and sea spry aerosol. 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 contribution of tropospheric aerosol, and/or with the effect
Abstract
xv