Speaker
Description
Air pollution is a real threat to the environment and human health. This research aims to assess air pollution with heavy metals in several locations on the Prishtina-Mitrovicë axis through atmospheric deposition using mosses as biomonitors. Mosses were used as biomonitors because they obtain nutrients mainly from atmospheric deposition. Moss samples (Pseudosclerpodium purum and Hypnum cupressiforme) were collected in accordance with the LRTAP, ICP-Vegetation convention. The levels of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Fe) were analyzed using the furnace and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method. Statistical analysis was applied to process the experimental data. The sampling points with high concentrations of the analyzed metals are: for cadmium, sampling point M5 (1.30 mg/kg), lead M11 (12.45 mg/kg), copper M5 (8.42 mg/kg), chromium M5 (4.49 mg/kg), manganese M11 (285.27 mg/kg), nickel M5 (9.18 mg/kg), iron M5 (3131.89 mg/kg) and zinc M6 51.02 mg/kg). The high level of these metals can be attributed to anthropogenic pollution (impact of the Kosovo A and Kosovo B Power Plants, the Trepça metallurgical complex, high traffic in these areas, waste dumps, quarries, etc.) and the impact of the geological composition of the soil. This research provides knowledge on potential sources of metal pollution in contaminated areas, contributing to the advancement of future research and assisting relevant institutions in taking effective actions to minimize this form of pollution.