The University of Tirana participated in the "Nationwide Academic and Scientific Book Fair", which took place in Pristina, Kosovo.
At this fair, UT presented the book "The Evaluation of Air Quality in Albania by Moss Biomonitoring and Metals Atmospheric Deposition", where Prof. Dr. Pranvera Lazo, author of the book and Prof. Dr. Elda Marku, head of the Chemistry Department at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
Book summary:
Air pollution from metals is one of the main threats that pose a risk to human health through the air we breathe, or through different routes of exposure. This book is the first study that provides an overview of air quality in Albania assessed through biomonitoring and atmospheric deposition of metals. The study is based on concentration data on 51 elements in moss samples collected during the 2010/2011 biomonitoring, carried out at the same time as the European one. The elements under investigation were determined by ICP-AES, ENAA and CVAAS analytical techniques (Hg only). The moss species Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw) was used as a biomonitor of atmospheric deposition of trace metals. H. cupressiforme (Hedw), a carpet moss family, is the dominant species in this study.
The objective of this book is to contribute to the identification of sources of pollution and the identification of factors that influence the high levels of trace metals in the air of Albania. This study can help policy makers make the right decisions to protect public health and the environment. Element distribution maps were produced using the geographic information system, GIS 10.2, in combination with spatial analysis of each element.
The study shows that the air quality in Albania is comparable to neighboring countries. Regarding the high level of concentration of Cr, Ni, V, Al, Fe and Hg, problems have been identified and influencing factors have been presented. Emissions from iron and chromium metallurgy, the cement industry, oil refineries, the mining industry and transport were identified as the main local contributors of trace metals to atmospheric deposition in Albania. Furthermore, the accumulation of these metals in mosses, caused by soil dusts and fine mining particles, was pointed out as another possibility of local emission factors. It was found that local emission sources for particular elements had a high contribution to air pollution.
