66
Zn 2010 = 10.5 + 0.167 × n, n = 1–47), it is clear that the Zn content in 2015 moss
samples is higher than those of 2010.
Zn concentration data show high and significant correlations with Cu (r = 0.7,
p = 0.000) and Pb (r = 0.62, p = 0.000) and moderate and significant correlation
with Cd (r = 0.41, p = 0.002), typical elements of traffic emission. The normalized
Zn(N) data show high and significant correlations with Cu(N) (r = 0.80, p = 0.000)
and moderate and significant correlation with Hg(N) r = 0.58, p = 0.000) and (Pb(N)
(r = 0.42, p = 0.002) derived from similar anthropogenic sources from long-range
transport of the pollutants.
2.3.3 Evaluation of the Health Risk
Humans and the environment are directly in contact with the pollutants through the
atmospheric deposition. It makes it possible to evaluate the exposure level of
humans and/or ecosystems. The manner in which the data are summarized depends
upon the site characteristic and the pathways being evaluated. According to EPA
(EPA 1989), the exposure assessment quantifies the magnitude, frequency and duration of exposure for the populations and exposure pathways selected for quantitative
evaluation through the estimation of the exposure concentrations in the selected
pathway-specific intakes. After the atmospheric deposition of pollutants, they could
enter the ecosystem (soil, biota and water) and be in dermal contact with the humans
or take it by food chain and inhalation. Moss biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition involves for chemical analysis of metals the green and/or green-brown parts of
the moss which represent the 3–5 years of moss growth period. It makes it possible
to survey the spatial and temporal trends of deposition in integral way that should
be considered as a long-term exposure, and the exposure concentrations should be
representative as long-term averages. The levels of metal contents in moss samples
are similar to those in vegetables in Albania (Lazo et al. 2003; Kasa et al. 2015) and
in other global regions (Ali and Al-Qahtani 2012; Gupta et al. 2013; Taghipour and
Mosaferi 2013; McBride et al. 2014; Souri et al. 2019) and in edible wild plants
(nettle leaves) (Nica et al. 2012). Very high contents of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and
Zn are reported in plants (58 plant spp. in total) collected at serpentine sites in
Albania (Shallari et al. 1998).
The sequence of the medians of the carcinogenic elements was Hg < Cd < As
−6
< CR < 1 × 10
−5
) and lower than the CR unacceptable
value of 1 × 10
−4
(Fig. 2.19). Allajbeu et al. (2017) had discussed the pollution level
based on different factors and indexes such as the contamination factor of the
elements, the pollution load indexes, and the risk index values, and have pointed out
the areas with high content of toxic metals as the areas with high risk to humans.
The highest CR values were found in the areas of mining industry such as Bulqiza
(St. 40), Burrel (St. 36) and Alarup and Memëlisht (St. 27 and 28).
S. Allajbeu et al.
Zn 2010 = 10.5 + 0.167 × n, n = 1–47), it is clear that the Zn content in 2015 moss
samples is higher than those of 2010.
Zn concentration data show high and significant correlations with Cu (r = 0.7,
p = 0.000) and Pb (r = 0.62, p = 0.000) and moderate and significant correlation
with Cd (r = 0.41, p = 0.002), typical elements of traffic emission. The normalized
Zn(N) data show high and significant correlations with Cu(N) (r = 0.80, p = 0.000)
and moderate and significant correlation with Hg(N) r = 0.58, p = 0.000) and (Pb(N)
(r = 0.42, p = 0.002) derived from similar anthropogenic sources from long-range
transport of the pollutants.
2.3.3 Evaluation of the Health Risk
Humans and the environment are directly in contact with the pollutants through the
atmospheric deposition. It makes it possible to evaluate the exposure level of
humans and/or ecosystems. The manner in which the data are summarized depends
upon the site characteristic and the pathways being evaluated. According to EPA
(EPA 1989), the exposure assessment quantifies the magnitude, frequency and duration of exposure for the populations and exposure pathways selected for quantitative
evaluation through the estimation of the exposure concentrations in the selected
pathway-specific intakes. After the atmospheric deposition of pollutants, they could
enter the ecosystem (soil, biota and water) and be in dermal contact with the humans
or take it by food chain and inhalation. Moss biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition involves for chemical analysis of metals the green and/or green-brown parts of
the moss which represent the 3–5 years of moss growth period. It makes it possible
to survey the spatial and temporal trends of deposition in integral way that should
be considered as a long-term exposure, and the exposure concentrations should be
representative as long-term averages. The levels of metal contents in moss samples
are similar to those in vegetables in Albania (Lazo et al. 2003; Kasa et al. 2015) and
in other global regions (Ali and Al-Qahtani 2012; Gupta et al. 2013; Taghipour and
Mosaferi 2013; McBride et al. 2014; Souri et al. 2019) and in edible wild plants
(nettle leaves) (Nica et al. 2012). Very high contents of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and
Zn are reported in plants (58 plant spp. in total) collected at serpentine sites in
Albania (Shallari et al. 1998).
The sequence of the medians of the carcinogenic elements was Hg < Cd < As
−6
< CR < 1 × 10
−5
) and lower than the CR unacceptable
value of 1 × 10
−4
(Fig. 2.19). Allajbeu et al. (2017) had discussed the pollution level
based on different factors and indexes such as the contamination factor of the
elements, the pollution load indexes, and the risk index values, and have pointed out
the areas with high content of toxic metals as the areas with high risk to humans.
The highest CR values were found in the areas of mining industry such as Bulqiza
(St. 40), Burrel (St. 36) and Alarup and Memëlisht (St. 27 and 28).
S. Allajbeu et al.