54
P. Lazo et al.
The spatial analysis plot of Cd (linear model) (Fig. 4.2) showed a very slight
increase from the south to the north direction of the country that is highly affected
by high Cd content in St. 41 (Cd = 0.111 + 0.00144 × n, n represents the number of
sampling sites). Soil geochemistry and mining activity may explain the high levels
recorded at specific points in the N-E part of Albania.
High Cd content was found in NE-SE metal mineralization belt mostly of Cr,
Cu, Ni and Fe deposits, and the lower in Western coastal areas (Fig. 4.2) which is
characterized by carbonate rocks and sediments of Adriatic and Ionian Seas (NAMR
2010). The highest Cd content was found in moss sample of St. 41 (Librazhdi area)
which probably derived from the local mining industry. High Cd content in the South
(Fig. 4.2) is probably derived from fuel combustion, oil refinery, and oil and gas
drilling industry of this area. Weathering and erosion of cadmium-bearing rocks are
probably the most important natural source of Cd in Albania. The next high content
of Cd was found in St. 27 (Kruja region) probably affected by cement production
plant and strong anthropogenic effect of kiln operations that burn waste materials
for heating, such as tyre wears, unselected urban wastes, woods etc., during CaO
production. The outlier sites at St. 1, 4, 8, 10, 14, 15, 23 and 31 positioned in coastal
areas (St. 1–14) are probably affected by shipping activity, oil and gas industry, and
by heavy traffic zones (St. 14). Besides, the high Cd content at St. 20, 23 and 31
are probably affected by soil geochemistry, as well as from iron metallurgy and kiln
operations in cement plants (St. 24). These findings may indicate that the presence
of Cd content in moss samples of Albania is probably derived from long-range
atmospheric transport and by local inputs of air pollution from industry, mining
activity, traffic, geogenic factors and crude oil industry.
Cd showed moderate and significant correlation with Cu, Pb and Zn (r = 0.4 −
0.6, p < 0.05) by probably indicating the effect of traffic emission and municipal
waste burning in open and non-regulated landfills. Weak and significant correlation
(r = 0.3 − 0.4, p < 0.05) were found between Cd and Na, Mg, Rb and Nd. The
elemental contents which are captured by moss samples can be part of the emissions
within particulate matter from different sources that create a very complex mixture in
the air and some times the associations between elements is not easy to be explained.
4.3 Lead, Pb
Pb is not a common element of earth’s crust and is mostly present in different ores
and minerals (UNEP 2013). It can enter in the air through the natural and the anthropogenic processes. Pb contents in moss samples varied from 1.34 to 19.7 mg kg
−1 ,
with an average concentration of 3.12 mg kg
−1 . The concentration of Pb was lower
in moss samples of Albania compared to the mosses of the most European countries
(Harmens et al. 2013; Lazo et al. 2018). The same situation was found for the atmospheric deposition of Pb in regional scale of Mediterranean area which is following
a downward trend, and in the country basis, Albania with only 0.3% of Pb emission
is listed at the end of other Mediterranean Countries (Pirrone et al. 1999).
P. Lazo et al.
The spatial analysis plot of Cd (linear model) (Fig. 4.2) showed a very slight
increase from the south to the north direction of the country that is highly affected
by high Cd content in St. 41 (Cd = 0.111 + 0.00144 × n, n represents the number of
sampling sites). Soil geochemistry and mining activity may explain the high levels
recorded at specific points in the N-E part of Albania.
High Cd content was found in NE-SE metal mineralization belt mostly of Cr,
Cu, Ni and Fe deposits, and the lower in Western coastal areas (Fig. 4.2) which is
characterized by carbonate rocks and sediments of Adriatic and Ionian Seas (NAMR
2010). The highest Cd content was found in moss sample of St. 41 (Librazhdi area)
which probably derived from the local mining industry. High Cd content in the South
(Fig. 4.2) is probably derived from fuel combustion, oil refinery, and oil and gas
drilling industry of this area. Weathering and erosion of cadmium-bearing rocks are
probably the most important natural source of Cd in Albania. The next high content
of Cd was found in St. 27 (Kruja region) probably affected by cement production
plant and strong anthropogenic effect of kiln operations that burn waste materials
for heating, such as tyre wears, unselected urban wastes, woods etc., during CaO
production. The outlier sites at St. 1, 4, 8, 10, 14, 15, 23 and 31 positioned in coastal
areas (St. 1–14) are probably affected by shipping activity, oil and gas industry, and
by heavy traffic zones (St. 14). Besides, the high Cd content at St. 20, 23 and 31
are probably affected by soil geochemistry, as well as from iron metallurgy and kiln
operations in cement plants (St. 24). These findings may indicate that the presence
of Cd content in moss samples of Albania is probably derived from long-range
atmospheric transport and by local inputs of air pollution from industry, mining
activity, traffic, geogenic factors and crude oil industry.
Cd showed moderate and significant correlation with Cu, Pb and Zn (r = 0.4 −
0.6, p < 0.05) by probably indicating the effect of traffic emission and municipal
waste burning in open and non-regulated landfills. Weak and significant correlation
(r = 0.3 − 0.4, p < 0.05) were found between Cd and Na, Mg, Rb and Nd. The
elemental contents which are captured by moss samples can be part of the emissions
within particulate matter from different sources that create a very complex mixture in
the air and some times the associations between elements is not easy to be explained.
4.3 Lead, Pb
Pb is not a common element of earth’s crust and is mostly present in different ores
and minerals (UNEP 2013). It can enter in the air through the natural and the anthropogenic processes. Pb contents in moss samples varied from 1.34 to 19.7 mg kg
−1 ,
with an average concentration of 3.12 mg kg
−1 . The concentration of Pb was lower
in moss samples of Albania compared to the mosses of the most European countries
(Harmens et al. 2013; Lazo et al. 2018). The same situation was found for the atmospheric deposition of Pb in regional scale of Mediterranean area which is following
a downward trend, and in the country basis, Albania with only 0.3% of Pb emission
is listed at the end of other Mediterranean Countries (Pirrone et al. 1999).