MOSS BIOMONITORING OF AIR POLLUTION WITH Cr AND Ni IN ALBANIA

Moss biomonitoring and induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was applied to study Cr and Ni atmospheric deposition in Albania. Moss samples Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw) spp. were collected from 55 sites during the summer of 2015 in accordance with the LRTAP Convention - ICP Vegetation protocol and sampling strategy of the European Programme on Biomonitoring of Heavy Metal Atmospheric Deposition. The statistical analysis was applied to investigate the concentration level, the variation and the distribution of both elements over the entire territory of the country. The concentration level of Cr and Ni in moss samples of Albania expressed by median concentration of 55 moss samples, are compared with the respective medians of Balkan countries, and of selected European countries. The elements Cr and Ni are included in the European program of moss biomonitoring. It was found that the median values of these elements in Albania were generally higher than the respective median values observed in Europe and Balkan countries. Lower content of Cr and Ni were found in the coastline area of Albania compared with the inland area. The aim of this study is the assessment of the air quality throughout Albania and the identification of their pollution sources to produce information needed for better environmental management. The data may help the policy makers to improve the strategy for a clean environment in the country.