70
long- range transport and the emission from metallurgy are the most probable
sources of toxic metals in moss samples and atmospheric deposition over the territory of Albania.
The estimated carcinogenic risk (CR) linked with the carcinogenic element (As,
Cd, Hg and Pb) ranged at 1 × 10
−6
< CR < 1 × 10
−5
. 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
). The sequence of the medians of the
carcinogenic elements was Hg < Cd < As < Pb. High death rates from lung cancer
and stomach cancer in Albania are linked with the level of carcinogenic and toxic
metals in atmospheric deposition as it is strongly linked with the air we breathe.
Factor analysis indicated the anthropogenic sources of the elements 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).
Moss biomonitoring survey provides a unique opportunity for the assessment of
metal contamination in atmospheric deposition in local and continental range, and
it is a strong indicium for the continuous and detailed monitoring in problematic areas.
Acknowledgments The authors express gratitude to the staff of the Institute of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia, for ICP-AES analysis
of Albanian moss samples.
References
Ali MHH, Al-Qahtani KM (2012) Assessment of some heavy metals in vegetables, cereals and
fruits in Saudi Arabian markets. Egypt J Aquat Res 38:31–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ejar.2012.08.002
Allajbeu S, Qarri F, Marku E, Bekteshi L, Ibro V, Frontasyeva MV, Stafilov T, Lazo P (2017)
Contamination scale on atmospheric deposition for assessing air quality in Albania evaluated
from most toxic heavy metal and MB. Air Qual Atmos Health 10:587–599
Araya M, Olivares M, Pizarro F (2007) Copper in human health. Int J Environ Health 1(4):609–620
Arif N, Yadav V, Singh S, Singh S, Ahmad P, Mishra RK, Sharma S, Tripathi DK, Dubey
NK, Chauhan DK (2016) Influence of high and low levels of plant-beneficial heavy metal
ions on plant growth and development. Front Environ Sci 4:69. https://doi.org/10.3389/
fenvs.2016.00069
Astel A, Astel K, Biziuk A (2008) PCA and multidimensional visualization techniques united to
aid in the bioindication of elements from transplanted Sphagnum palustre moss exposed in
Gdansk city area. Environ Sci Pollut Res 15(1):41–50
ATSDR (1999) Toxicological profile for mercury. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service, Washington D.C.; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp46.pdf
ATSDR (2004) Toxicological profile for cobalt. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service, Washington D.C.; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp33.pdf
Balabanova B, Stafilov T, Bačeva K, Šajn R (2010) Biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution with
heavy metals in the copper mine vicinity located near Radovıš, Republic of Macedonia. J
Environ Sci Health A 45:1504–1518
Bargagli R (1998) Trace elements in terrestrial plants: an ecophysiological approach to biomonitoring and biorecovery. Springer, ISBN 3540645519
S. Allajbeu et al.
long- range transport and the emission from metallurgy are the most probable
sources of toxic metals in moss samples and atmospheric deposition over the territory of Albania.
The estimated carcinogenic risk (CR) linked with the carcinogenic element (As,
Cd, Hg and Pb) ranged at 1 × 10
−6
< CR < 1 × 10
−5
. 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
). The sequence of the medians of the
carcinogenic elements was Hg < Cd < As < Pb. High death rates from lung cancer
and stomach cancer in Albania are linked with the level of carcinogenic and toxic
metals in atmospheric deposition as it is strongly linked with the air we breathe.
Factor analysis indicated the anthropogenic sources of the elements 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).
Moss biomonitoring survey provides a unique opportunity for the assessment of
metal contamination in atmospheric deposition in local and continental range, and
it is a strong indicium for the continuous and detailed monitoring in problematic areas.
Acknowledgments The authors express gratitude to the staff of the Institute of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia, for ICP-AES analysis
of Albanian moss samples.
References
Ali MHH, Al-Qahtani KM (2012) Assessment of some heavy metals in vegetables, cereals and
fruits in Saudi Arabian markets. Egypt J Aquat Res 38:31–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ejar.2012.08.002
Allajbeu S, Qarri F, Marku E, Bekteshi L, Ibro V, Frontasyeva MV, Stafilov T, Lazo P (2017)
Contamination scale on atmospheric deposition for assessing air quality in Albania evaluated
from most toxic heavy metal and MB. Air Qual Atmos Health 10:587–599
Araya M, Olivares M, Pizarro F (2007) Copper in human health. Int J Environ Health 1(4):609–620
Arif N, Yadav V, Singh S, Singh S, Ahmad P, Mishra RK, Sharma S, Tripathi DK, Dubey
NK, Chauhan DK (2016) Influence of high and low levels of plant-beneficial heavy metal
ions on plant growth and development. Front Environ Sci 4:69. https://doi.org/10.3389/
fenvs.2016.00069
Astel A, Astel K, Biziuk A (2008) PCA and multidimensional visualization techniques united to
aid in the bioindication of elements from transplanted Sphagnum palustre moss exposed in
Gdansk city area. Environ Sci Pollut Res 15(1):41–50
ATSDR (1999) Toxicological profile for mercury. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service, Washington D.C.; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp46.pdf
ATSDR (2004) Toxicological profile for cobalt. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service, Washington D.C.; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp33.pdf
Balabanova B, Stafilov T, Bačeva K, Šajn R (2010) Biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution with
heavy metals in the copper mine vicinity located near Radovıš, Republic of Macedonia. J
Environ Sci Health A 45:1504–1518
Bargagli R (1998) Trace elements in terrestrial plants: an ecophysiological approach to biomonitoring and biorecovery. Springer, ISBN 3540645519
S. Allajbeu et al.