45
typical element of long-range atmospheric transport, indicating that it is mostly
affected by the local emission sources and less by the long-range transport. The
mutual correlation of As-As(N) is verified by the linear regression analysis (Fig. 2.3).
2.3.2.2 Cadmium
Cd content in moss samples ranged between 0.045 mg kg
−1
and 1.015 mg kg
−1
with
an average value of 0.222 mg kg
−1
and a median of 0.116 mg kg
−1
. It shows very
high variation (CV% = 105% > 75%). The difference between the first quartile, Q1,
and the minimum values (0.038 mg kg
−1
) is lower than the difference between the
third quartile, Q3, and the maximum value (0.738 mg kg
−1
) indicating that the concentration data are skewed right. The distribution pattern of Cd in 2015 mosses
looks likely different compared with the distribution pattern of Cd in 2010 mosses.
Some new anomalies are evident on 2015 spatial distribution plot which are positioned in the new sampling sites added in the north part of the country on 2015 moss
survey (in total 55 sampling sites on 2015 and 47 sampling sites on 2010 moss
survey). The differences observed among different areas (Fig. 2.4) indicate the
effects of different local factors and/or climatic changes between two moss biomonitoring surveys. By comparing 2015 moss concentration data with 2015 moss
normalized data, it is clearly showed that the anthropogenic effects are higher in the
areas of mining industry (St. 42, 43 and 52, Librazhd, Scanderbeg and Fushë- Arrëz).
The sites with high Cd content (Fig. 2.4a and b) made it possible to distinguish the
dual effects of natural and anthropogenic sources. The major sources for Cd emission to the air from natural sources are volcanoes, airborne soil particles, sea spray,
biogenic material and forest fires. The weathering of rocks is a main natural Cd
source that releases cadmium to soils and aquatic systems (www.who.int) and in air
mostly as windblown dust particles Nordic Council of Ministers (2003).
The linear spatial analysis of Cd showed a higher level of Cd content in 2015
moss samples (n; n is the number of sampling sites from 1 to 55) compared to the
Cd content in 2010 moss samples (Cd = 0.111 + 0.00144 × n). Cd content shows a
higher increase at 2015 mosses compared to the 2010 mosses from the south to the
north direction of the country. The highest content was found in NE-SE metal mineralization belt of Cr, Cu, Ni and Fe deposits indicating the effects of geogenic and
mining local industry sources. The same with As, differences founded between Cd
content on 2015 and 2010 moss samples are probably affected by the changes in
long-range transport of pollution, the changes in climatic trends, changes of land
use, etc. (Colette et al. 2016).
Cadmium showed a very strong and significant correlation with the normalized
concentration Cd (r = 0.755, p = 0.000) probably indicating that the effect of anthropogenic sources is stronger than the natural emission sources. It shows weak and
significant correlation (r = 0.33, p < 0.05) with Ni. 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 sometimes
2 Spatial Series and Multivariate Analysis in Assessing the Essential (Cu and Zn…
typical element of long-range atmospheric transport, indicating that it is mostly
affected by the local emission sources and less by the long-range transport. The
mutual correlation of As-As(N) is verified by the linear regression analysis (Fig. 2.3).
2.3.2.2 Cadmium
Cd content in moss samples ranged between 0.045 mg kg
−1
and 1.015 mg kg
−1
with
an average value of 0.222 mg kg
−1
and a median of 0.116 mg kg
−1
. It shows very
high variation (CV% = 105% > 75%). The difference between the first quartile, Q1,
and the minimum values (0.038 mg kg
−1
) is lower than the difference between the
third quartile, Q3, and the maximum value (0.738 mg kg
−1
) indicating that the concentration data are skewed right. The distribution pattern of Cd in 2015 mosses
looks likely different compared with the distribution pattern of Cd in 2010 mosses.
Some new anomalies are evident on 2015 spatial distribution plot which are positioned in the new sampling sites added in the north part of the country on 2015 moss
survey (in total 55 sampling sites on 2015 and 47 sampling sites on 2010 moss
survey). The differences observed among different areas (Fig. 2.4) indicate the
effects of different local factors and/or climatic changes between two moss biomonitoring surveys. By comparing 2015 moss concentration data with 2015 moss
normalized data, it is clearly showed that the anthropogenic effects are higher in the
areas of mining industry (St. 42, 43 and 52, Librazhd, Scanderbeg and Fushë- Arrëz).
The sites with high Cd content (Fig. 2.4a and b) made it possible to distinguish the
dual effects of natural and anthropogenic sources. The major sources for Cd emission to the air from natural sources are volcanoes, airborne soil particles, sea spray,
biogenic material and forest fires. The weathering of rocks is a main natural Cd
source that releases cadmium to soils and aquatic systems (www.who.int) and in air
mostly as windblown dust particles Nordic Council of Ministers (2003).
The linear spatial analysis of Cd showed a higher level of Cd content in 2015
moss samples (n; n is the number of sampling sites from 1 to 55) compared to the
Cd content in 2010 moss samples (Cd = 0.111 + 0.00144 × n). Cd content shows a
higher increase at 2015 mosses compared to the 2010 mosses from the south to the
north direction of the country. The highest content was found in NE-SE metal mineralization belt of Cr, Cu, Ni and Fe deposits indicating the effects of geogenic and
mining local industry sources. The same with As, differences founded between Cd
content on 2015 and 2010 moss samples are probably affected by the changes in
long-range transport of pollution, the changes in climatic trends, changes of land
use, etc. (Colette et al. 2016).
Cadmium showed a very strong and significant correlation with the normalized
concentration Cd (r = 0.755, p = 0.000) probably indicating that the effect of anthropogenic sources is stronger than the natural emission sources. It shows weak and
significant correlation (r = 0.33, p < 0.05) with Ni. 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 sometimes
2 Spatial Series and Multivariate Analysis in Assessing the Essential (Cu and Zn…