74
P. Lazo et al.
of sampling site) that is characterized by a positive slope in the linear model (b =
0.029, and a = 1.149).
High Co concentrations were found in the same sampling sites as Ni and Cr (St.
22, 24, 27, 29, 40, 42, 43 and 47), and in St. 13, 14 and 24. The highest Co content was
found in the St. 29, Mirdita region that is the area of chromium and sulfide minerals
and Cr ore deposits (Milushi 2015). High Co contents in moss samples of St. 40,
41, 42, 43 and 47, are strongly linked with geogenic factors of these areas that are
known for their chromite, nickel silicate deposits and nickel-ferrous ore exploited
(Milushi 2015). These findings indicate the important role of soil dust fine mineral
particles as the main source of Co in these areas. High Co content was also found
in St. 24, in Elbasan region, which is affected by anthropogenic pollution from steel
and iron metallurgy and ferro-chromium plant of Elbasan metallurgical combine.
The next area with high Co contents in moss samples positioned in the Western
part of the country (St. 13 and 14) were probably affected by sea spray emission.
The wind blowing fine mineral dust particles emitted from huge amount of mineral
wastes deposited in different areas may be an important factor of Co distribution
pattern. The variation of Co content in moss was probably derived from local inputs
of air pollution from industry, mining activity and geogenic factors and long-range
atmospheric transport.
Co showed high and significant correlation (r > 0.6, p < 0.001) with Cr, Ni, Fe, Ti,
Mg (the last r = 0.569, p = 0.001), Ta, Sc, mostly with light lanthanides, Th and U.
The geochemical association of the group of elements (Co, Ni, Cr, Fe, Ti and Mg) that
tends to be present in mafic minerals (UNEP 2013) and ultramafic rocks that contain
appreciable content of Ni, Cr, Mg, etc. (SGS Minerals Services 2005) may indicate
the geogemic and geochemical source of these elements. Co showed moderate and
significant correlation (r = 0.4 − 0.6, p < 0.001) with typical crustal elements such
as Zr, Hf, W, Li, that is probably derived from the soil dust fine particles and longrange transport as an additional source of Co in the current moss samples. Finally,
the long-range transport of the pollutants, soil geochemistry, mining activity, and the
anthropogenic emission from the ferro-chromium metallurgy may explain the high
Co levels recorded at specific points.
References
ATSDR (2004) Toxicological profile for Cobalt. CAS#: 7440-48-4. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/Tox
Profiles/tp33.pdf
ATSDR (2005) Public health statement. Nickel CAS#: 7440-02-0. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/Tox
Profles/tp15-c1-b.pdf. Accessed 6 Jan 2019
ATSDR (2012) Public health statement. Chromium CAS# 7440-7-3. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
ToxProfiles/tp7-c1-b.pdf. Accessed 6 Jan 2019
Dutta S, Mitra M, Agarwal P, Mahapatra K, De S, Sett U, Roy S (2018) Oxidative and genotoxic
damages in plants in response to heavy metal stress and maintenance of genome stability. Plant
Signal Behav 13(8): e1460048 (17 pages). https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2018.1460048
P. Lazo et al.
of sampling site) that is characterized by a positive slope in the linear model (b =
0.029, and a = 1.149).
High Co concentrations were found in the same sampling sites as Ni and Cr (St.
22, 24, 27, 29, 40, 42, 43 and 47), and in St. 13, 14 and 24. The highest Co content was
found in the St. 29, Mirdita region that is the area of chromium and sulfide minerals
and Cr ore deposits (Milushi 2015). High Co contents in moss samples of St. 40,
41, 42, 43 and 47, are strongly linked with geogenic factors of these areas that are
known for their chromite, nickel silicate deposits and nickel-ferrous ore exploited
(Milushi 2015). These findings indicate the important role of soil dust fine mineral
particles as the main source of Co in these areas. High Co content was also found
in St. 24, in Elbasan region, which is affected by anthropogenic pollution from steel
and iron metallurgy and ferro-chromium plant of Elbasan metallurgical combine.
The next area with high Co contents in moss samples positioned in the Western
part of the country (St. 13 and 14) were probably affected by sea spray emission.
The wind blowing fine mineral dust particles emitted from huge amount of mineral
wastes deposited in different areas may be an important factor of Co distribution
pattern. The variation of Co content in moss was probably derived from local inputs
of air pollution from industry, mining activity and geogenic factors and long-range
atmospheric transport.
Co showed high and significant correlation (r > 0.6, p < 0.001) with Cr, Ni, Fe, Ti,
Mg (the last r = 0.569, p = 0.001), Ta, Sc, mostly with light lanthanides, Th and U.
The geochemical association of the group of elements (Co, Ni, Cr, Fe, Ti and Mg) that
tends to be present in mafic minerals (UNEP 2013) and ultramafic rocks that contain
appreciable content of Ni, Cr, Mg, etc. (SGS Minerals Services 2005) may indicate
the geogemic and geochemical source of these elements. Co showed moderate and
significant correlation (r = 0.4 − 0.6, p < 0.001) with typical crustal elements such
as Zr, Hf, W, Li, that is probably derived from the soil dust fine particles and longrange transport as an additional source of Co in the current moss samples. Finally,
the long-range transport of the pollutants, soil geochemistry, mining activity, and the
anthropogenic emission from the ferro-chromium metallurgy may explain the high
Co levels recorded at specific points.
References
ATSDR (2004) Toxicological profile for Cobalt. CAS#: 7440-48-4. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/Tox
Profiles/tp33.pdf
ATSDR (2005) Public health statement. Nickel CAS#: 7440-02-0. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/Tox
Profles/tp15-c1-b.pdf. Accessed 6 Jan 2019
ATSDR (2012) Public health statement. Chromium CAS# 7440-7-3. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
ToxProfiles/tp7-c1-b.pdf. Accessed 6 Jan 2019
Dutta S, Mitra M, Agarwal P, Mahapatra K, De S, Sett U, Roy S (2018) Oxidative and genotoxic
damages in plants in response to heavy metal stress and maintenance of genome stability. Plant
Signal Behav 13(8): e1460048 (17 pages). https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2018.1460048