69
with Ni, Co, Cr and their normalized data. Factor loadings of the Ni(N), Co(N) and
Cr(N) are very close to the loadings of the concentration data indicating the high
impact and similar anthropogenic sources of these elements. Cd(N) is also associated with F1 indicating similar anthropogenic sources of Cd with Ni, Co and Cr,
probably from high-temperature metal processing industry.
The second factor (F2) represents 20% of the total variance and is linked with the
normalized data of Cu, Pb, Cr, As and Cd indicating similar anthropogenic sources
of these elements.
The third factor (F3) represents 15.3% of the total variance and is linked with Pb,
Pb(N), Cr and Cr(N). Factor loadings of the normalized data are very close to the
loadings of the concentration data indicating the high impact and similar anthropogenic sources of these elements.
The fourth factor (F4) that represents 14.9% of the total variance is associated
with high loadings of Zn, Cu, Cd and As concentration data indicating similar origin
of these elements.
The elements under investigation are known as typical anthropogenic elements
that were clearly tested by factor analysis such as mining and Cr-Ni processing
industry (F1), metal industry (F2), road transport (F3) and long-range transport of
elements derived from electricity and heat production (F4).
2.4 Conclusions
Moss survey data in combination with the statistical analysis produced a detailed
and up-to-date coverage of trace metals in moss samples that directly indicate the
metal atmospheric deposition of Albania. Through the spatial analysis (linear
model) of metal concentration data, it was possible to predict the spatial extinction
of the areas with high metal concentrations where the local factors were suggested
to be dominant in air pollution that pose threats from metal depositions.
The local emission sources and long-range atmospheric transport of the pollutants show significant contributions to atmospheric deposition of metals in Albania.
Carcinogenic trace metal contamination is among the main threat component of
atmospheric deposition since it may pose risk to the human health. Significant differences were found in the concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in moss
samples. The N-E part of Albania is also characterized as a contaminated area from
the elements under investigation. It may affect the crop cultivation for human or
animal consumption that may accumulate trace metals and thus may pose a risk to
human and animal health. The western agricultural land area could be considered as
a safer area for food production. The anthropogenic sources of the elements are
likely higher than their natural background.
The examination of the distribution profile, the levels of the potential anthropogenic elements that pose high risk to the human health (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) and the
correlation between elements pointed out that the traffic emission, oil and gas industry, shipping activity in the coastal areas, geochemical and geological factors,
2 Spatial Series and Multivariate Analysis in Assessing the Essential (Cu and Zn…
with Ni, Co, Cr and their normalized data. Factor loadings of the Ni(N), Co(N) and
Cr(N) are very close to the loadings of the concentration data indicating the high
impact and similar anthropogenic sources of these elements. Cd(N) is also associated with F1 indicating similar anthropogenic sources of Cd with Ni, Co and Cr,
probably from high-temperature metal processing industry.
The second factor (F2) represents 20% of the total variance and is linked with the
normalized data of Cu, Pb, Cr, As and Cd indicating similar anthropogenic sources
of these elements.
The third factor (F3) represents 15.3% of the total variance and is linked with Pb,
Pb(N), Cr and Cr(N). Factor loadings of the normalized data are very close to the
loadings of the concentration data indicating the high impact and similar anthropogenic sources of these elements.
The fourth factor (F4) that represents 14.9% of the total variance is associated
with high loadings of Zn, Cu, Cd and As concentration data indicating similar origin
of these elements.
The elements under investigation are known as typical anthropogenic elements
that were clearly tested by factor analysis such as mining and Cr-Ni processing
industry (F1), metal industry (F2), road transport (F3) and long-range transport of
elements derived from electricity and heat production (F4).
2.4 Conclusions
Moss survey data in combination with the statistical analysis produced a detailed
and up-to-date coverage of trace metals in moss samples that directly indicate the
metal atmospheric deposition of Albania. Through the spatial analysis (linear
model) of metal concentration data, it was possible to predict the spatial extinction
of the areas with high metal concentrations where the local factors were suggested
to be dominant in air pollution that pose threats from metal depositions.
The local emission sources and long-range atmospheric transport of the pollutants show significant contributions to atmospheric deposition of metals in Albania.
Carcinogenic trace metal contamination is among the main threat component of
atmospheric deposition since it may pose risk to the human health. Significant differences were found in the concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in moss
samples. The N-E part of Albania is also characterized as a contaminated area from
the elements under investigation. It may affect the crop cultivation for human or
animal consumption that may accumulate trace metals and thus may pose a risk to
human and animal health. The western agricultural land area could be considered as
a safer area for food production. The anthropogenic sources of the elements are
likely higher than their natural background.
The examination of the distribution profile, the levels of the potential anthropogenic elements that pose high risk to the human health (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) and the
correlation between elements pointed out that the traffic emission, oil and gas industry, shipping activity in the coastal areas, geochemical and geological factors,
2 Spatial Series and Multivariate Analysis in Assessing the Essential (Cu and Zn…