Chapter 4
Chalcophile (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn)
and Biophile (Cu, Mo, and V) Micro
Elements
Pranvera Lazo, Flora Qarri, Shaniko Allajbeu, Sonila Kane, Lirim Bekteshi,
Marina Frontasyeva, and Trajce Stafilov
Based in the values of the median concentrations, the order of the distribution of
calcophile and biophile elements in moss samples was Cd < Hg < As < Mo < Pb
< V, Cu < Ni < Zn. The concentration data of Cu, Zn, Mo and V showed moderate
variation, while the concentration data of As, Hg, Cd, Ni and Pb showed high variation
by indicating high geographical variation of these elements. This is probably linked
with the local enrichment of these elements and the effects of different factors.
4.1 Copper, Cu
Cu is a common crustal element that is found naturally in the earth’s crust, rocks,
and in different mineral ores, and is emitted by natural and anthropogenic sources.
It shows a moderate variation (CV% = 43%) and the spatial distribution pattern
(Fig. 4.1) looks likely relatively stable over the country. It is probably affected by
long-range atmospheric transport from the other parts of Europe as an important
source of Cu in moss samples.
The spatial analysis of Cu (linear model) (Fig. 4.1) showed an increase
in Cu content from the south to the north direction of the country (Cu = 5.171 +
0.036 × n, n represents the number of sampling site). Soil geochemistry and mining
activity may explain the high levels recorded at specific points in the North-East part
of Albania. The Cu deposits are mainly located in six main areas of Albania such as
Mirdita, Puka, Shkodra, Kukes, Has and Korca (Fig. 4.1) mostly positioned in the
north, except Korca. Among those, Has, Mirdita and Puka regions are known for their
important Cu potential. On the other hand, the beneficiated products of Cu mineral
concentrates mainly smelted at the Rubik, Gjegjan (Kukes) and Laci pyrometallurgical smelting plants with old technology had emitted high amount of waste materials
that may generate soil dust fine particulate maters rich in Cu. The anomalies of Cu
in mosses positioned in NE-SE part of the country are probably affected by the
geological factors of the area that are known as Cu and Ni sulfide minerals. Another
© 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_4
51
Chalcophile (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn)
and Biophile (Cu, Mo, and V) Micro
Elements
Pranvera Lazo, Flora Qarri, Shaniko Allajbeu, Sonila Kane, Lirim Bekteshi,
Marina Frontasyeva, and Trajce Stafilov
Based in the values of the median concentrations, the order of the distribution of
calcophile and biophile elements in moss samples was Cd < Hg < As < Mo < Pb
< V, Cu < Ni < Zn. The concentration data of Cu, Zn, Mo and V showed moderate
variation, while the concentration data of As, Hg, Cd, Ni and Pb showed high variation
by indicating high geographical variation of these elements. This is probably linked
with the local enrichment of these elements and the effects of different factors.
4.1 Copper, Cu
Cu is a common crustal element that is found naturally in the earth’s crust, rocks,
and in different mineral ores, and is emitted by natural and anthropogenic sources.
It shows a moderate variation (CV% = 43%) and the spatial distribution pattern
(Fig. 4.1) looks likely relatively stable over the country. It is probably affected by
long-range atmospheric transport from the other parts of Europe as an important
source of Cu in moss samples.
The spatial analysis of Cu (linear model) (Fig. 4.1) showed an increase
in Cu content from the south to the north direction of the country (Cu = 5.171 +
0.036 × n, n represents the number of sampling site). Soil geochemistry and mining
activity may explain the high levels recorded at specific points in the North-East part
of Albania. The Cu deposits are mainly located in six main areas of Albania such as
Mirdita, Puka, Shkodra, Kukes, Has and Korca (Fig. 4.1) mostly positioned in the
north, except Korca. Among those, Has, Mirdita and Puka regions are known for their
important Cu potential. On the other hand, the beneficiated products of Cu mineral
concentrates mainly smelted at the Rubik, Gjegjan (Kukes) and Laci pyrometallurgical smelting plants with old technology had emitted high amount of waste materials
that may generate soil dust fine particulate maters rich in Cu. The anomalies of Cu
in mosses positioned in NE-SE part of the country are probably affected by the
geological factors of the area that are known as Cu and Ni sulfide minerals. Another
© 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_4
51