34
element performed by a space series model, adapted to the time-series linear model,
was used to investigate the spatial distribution of the elements. It may visualize the
areas characterized by a high concentration level of the toxic elements, particularly
of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb, that are classified as human carcinogens. Multivariate
analysis is used to identify the most probable sources of the elements in moss samples. Significant differences were found in the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Co, Hg,
Ni and Pb in moss samples, and diverse patterns for different elements were found
by presenting diverse geographical variabilities in moss metal concentrations. Good
correlations were found between the concentration data and the normalized concentration data that indicate higher effects of anthropogenic sources of these elements
compared to the natural one. High Ni and Cr contents were found in all territory of
Albania. The highest Ni and Cr contents were found in the eastern part that could be
classified as highly polluted zone mostly by geological and anthropogenic emission
sources. The elements Cr, Ni and Hg exceeded the corresponding median values of
European moss. The spatial analysis of the elements (linear model) is possible to
identify the areas with a high concentration of certain metals which could suggest
for being under control. Wide ranges of metal concentrations were found for As, Hg,
Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, Cr and Zn which are characterized by high variations (CV% > 75%).
The highest content of Cr, Ni and Co was found in the eastern part of the country.
The anthropogenic factors and soil dust associated with the windblown fine mineral
dust particles were pointed as another possibility of local emitting factors affecting
the accumulation of these metals in mosses. The median value of CR (1.36 × 10
−6
)
is higher than the carcinogenic target risk value (1 × 10
−6
) and lower than the Cr
unacceptable value (CR > 1 × 10
−4
).
Keywords Atmospheric deposition · Trace metals · Moss biomonitoring · Air
quality · ICP-AES analysis · Health risk · Multivariate analysis · Spatial analysis
2.1 Introduction
Air pollution is caused by various natural and anthropogenic processes that cause
the growth of various organic and inorganic chemicals that in certain contents pose
a risk to humans, animals and the environment around us. It recently became a serious problem worldwide. Poor air quality may damage human health and also affect
the structure and the function of ecosystems (EEA 2014) because as the pollutants
enter the atmosphere, the coarse and heavy particles could rapidly be deposited near
the source of the emission and the other, indeed fine particles could be transported
to the long distances following the movement towards the atmospheric masses. Air
pollution shows acute and chronic effects on human health by causing several health
problems and affecting different systems and organs such as respiratory irritation,
S. Allajbeu et al.
element performed by a space series model, adapted to the time-series linear model,
was used to investigate the spatial distribution of the elements. It may visualize the
areas characterized by a high concentration level of the toxic elements, particularly
of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb, that are classified as human carcinogens. Multivariate
analysis is used to identify the most probable sources of the elements in moss samples. Significant differences were found in the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Co, Hg,
Ni and Pb in moss samples, and diverse patterns for different elements were found
by presenting diverse geographical variabilities in moss metal concentrations. Good
correlations were found between the concentration data and the normalized concentration data that indicate higher effects of anthropogenic sources of these elements
compared to the natural one. High Ni and Cr contents were found in all territory of
Albania. The highest Ni and Cr contents were found in the eastern part that could be
classified as highly polluted zone mostly by geological and anthropogenic emission
sources. The elements Cr, Ni and Hg exceeded the corresponding median values of
European moss. The spatial analysis of the elements (linear model) is possible to
identify the areas with a high concentration of certain metals which could suggest
for being under control. Wide ranges of metal concentrations were found for As, Hg,
Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, Cr and Zn which are characterized by high variations (CV% > 75%).
The highest content of Cr, Ni and Co was found in the eastern part of the country.
The anthropogenic factors and soil dust associated with the windblown fine mineral
dust particles were pointed as another possibility of local emitting factors affecting
the accumulation of these metals in mosses. The median value of CR (1.36 × 10
−6
)
is higher than the carcinogenic target risk value (1 × 10
−6
) and lower than the Cr
unacceptable value (CR > 1 × 10
−4
).
Keywords Atmospheric deposition · Trace metals · Moss biomonitoring · Air
quality · ICP-AES analysis · Health risk · Multivariate analysis · Spatial analysis
2.1 Introduction
Air pollution is caused by various natural and anthropogenic processes that cause
the growth of various organic and inorganic chemicals that in certain contents pose
a risk to humans, animals and the environment around us. It recently became a serious problem worldwide. Poor air quality may damage human health and also affect
the structure and the function of ecosystems (EEA 2014) because as the pollutants
enter the atmosphere, the coarse and heavy particles could rapidly be deposited near
the source of the emission and the other, indeed fine particles could be transported
to the long distances following the movement towards the atmospheric masses. Air
pollution shows acute and chronic effects on human health by causing several health
problems and affecting different systems and organs such as respiratory irritation,
S. Allajbeu et al.