Assessment of the Anthropogenic and Natural Factors on the Level of the Heavy Metals and Biogenic Elements in Soils in Kosovo

IF 3.8 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Pub Date : 2023-07-04 DOI:10.1007/s11270-023-06443-0

Albert Maxhuni, Pranvera Lazo, Liridon Berisha

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Abstract

The assessments of heavy metal soil pollution in Kosovo are deficient. Considering that Kosovo is characterized by complex geological settings and high mining activity, it is important to assess the risk of heavy metal soil pollution. The research aims to evaluate the level and spatial distribution of some heavy metals and biogenic elements in soil samples throughout the whole territory of the country. The surface soil samples were collected at 0–25 cm depth from twenty-four sampling sites evenly distributed in the study area. Each site comprised five to ten sub-samples within a 50 × 50 m expanse. The concentration of elements (Cd, Pb, Co, Cu, Mn, and Ni) was determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) were used to determine the levels of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Zn, and Fe, while cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS) was used for the determination of Hg. For the processing of experimental data, statistical analyses (descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression) were applied, as were cluster and factor analyses. The concentrations of heavy metals and biogenic elements, based on their average values in the soil samples, exhibited the following trend: Fe > Mg > Ca > Mn > K > Cr > Na > Ni > Pb > Zn > Cu > Co > Cd > Hg. In specific sampling locations, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Ni surpassed the maximum thresholds set by the EU directive. Long-term emission inputs from the mining industry, coal-fired power sources, and areas with heavy vehicular traffic are the main sources of these elements. The outcomes of this investigation provide precise information regarding potential sources of metal pollution in contaminated areas, thereby serving as a basis for future research endeavors and enabling relevant institutions to implement strategies aimed at reducing this form of pollution.

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科索沃土壤中重金属和生物源元素水平的人为和自然因素评价

摘要科索沃重金属土壤污染评价存在不足。考虑到科索沃的特点是地质环境复杂，采矿活动频繁，因此必须评估重金属土壤污染的风险。本研究旨在评估全国土壤样品中部分重金属和生物源元素的水平和空间分布。表层土壤样品采自均匀分布于研究区内的24个样点，深度为0 ~ 25 cm。每个站点在50 × 50 m的范围内包含5到10个子样本。采用石墨炉原子吸收光谱法(GFAAS)测定了样品中Cd、Pb、Co、Cu、Mn、Ni等元素的浓度。Ca、Mg、Na、K、Zn、Fe的测定采用原子吸收光谱法(AAS)和原子发射光谱法(AES)， Hg的测定采用冷蒸汽原子吸收光谱法(CVAAS)。实验数据的处理采用统计分析(描述性统计、相关分析、线性回归)、聚类分析和因子分析。根据土壤样品中重金属和生物源元素的平均值，重金属和生物源元素的浓度呈现如下趋势:Fe > Mg > Ca > Mn > K > Cr > Na > Ni > Pb > Zn > Cu > Co > Cd > Hg。在特定的采样地点，铅、镉、铜和镍的浓度超过了欧盟指令规定的最大阈值。这些元素的主要来源是来自采矿业、燃煤电厂和车辆繁忙地区的长期排放投入。这项调查的结果提供了有关污染地区潜在金属污染源的准确信息，从而为今后的研究工作奠定了基础，并使有关机构能够实施旨在减少这种形式的污染的战略。

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来源期刊

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

6.90%

发文量

448

审稿时长

2.6 months

期刊介绍： Water, Air, & Soil Pollution is an international, interdisciplinary journal on all aspects of pollution and solutions to pollution in the biosphere. This includes chemical, physical and biological processes affecting flora, fauna, water, air and soil in relation to environmental pollution. Because of its scope, the subject areas are diverse and include all aspects of pollution sources, transport, deposition, accumulation, acid precipitation, atmospheric pollution, metals, aquatic pollution including marine pollution and ground water, waste water, pesticides, soil pollution, sewage, sediment pollution, forestry pollution, effects of pollutants on humans, vegetation, fish, aquatic species, micro-organisms, and animals, environmental and molecular toxicology applied to pollution research, biosensors, global and climate change, ecological implications of pollution and pollution models. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution also publishes manuscripts on novel methods used in the study of environmental pollutants, environmental toxicology, environmental biology, novel environmental engineering related to pollution, biodiversity as influenced by pollution, novel environmental biotechnology as applied to pollution (e.g. bioremediation), environmental modelling and biorestoration of polluted environments. Articles should not be submitted that are of local interest only and do not advance international knowledge in environmental pollution and solutions to pollution. Articles that simply replicate known knowledge or techniques while researching a local pollution problem will normally be rejected without review. Submitted articles must have up-to-date references, employ the correct experimental replication and statistical analysis, where needed and contain a significant contribution to new knowledge. The publishing and editorial team sincerely appreciate your cooperation. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution publishes research papers; review articles; mini-reviews; and book reviews.