Skip to main content
Log in

An Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Sediments Along the Albanian Coast

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An evaluation is presented of heavy metal pollution, based on statistical analysis of metal concentrations in the sediments from an area along the Albanian Coast. This includes a detailed description of levels of the most important pollutants. Examination of lognormal metal distribution plots indicates that the curve inflections may be operationally used as a threshold between polluted and unpolluted areas. Fe is used for mineralogical normalization of the data. The normalization procedure identifies the most polluted areas. It is clearly demonstrated that some industrial activities such as mining, harbour and chlor-alkali plant, notably affect the heavy metals concentration in the sediments. An evaluation of bakcground levels for the sediments of the Adriatic Albanian coast is also carried out.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baraj, B., Cocoli, V., Cullaj, A., Babi, D. and Robinson, D.: 1994, Fresenius Envir. Bull. 3, 169.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Lacerda, L. D. and Salomons, W. et al.: 1991, Biogeochemistry 14, 91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donazzolo, R. and Hieke Merlin, O. et al.: 1981, Mar. Pol. Bull. 12, 417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donazzolo, R. and Hieke Merlin, O. et al.: 1981, Convegno delle unita operative afferenti al sottoprogetti risorse biologiche e inquinamento Marino, Roma, 10–11 Novembre 1981.

  • Elrick, K. A. and Horowitz, A. J.: 1987, Varian Instrument at Work, No AA-72. Varian Techtron Pty. Limited.

  • Ferrara, R. and Maserti, B. E.: 1992, Marine Chemistry 38, 237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Förstner, U.: 1983, Applied Environmental Geochemistry, Academic Press London, 395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, H.: 1991, Water Air and Soil Pollution 56, 83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horst, M. F., Conti, L. F. C. and Sambasiva, R. P.: 1994, Environ. Technol. 15, 87.

    Google Scholar 

  • IAEA, UNEP: 1990, Reference Methods for marine Pollution Studies (drafts), Athens.

  • Jeftic, L.: 1990, State of marine Environment in the Mediterranean region, MAP Technical reports Series No. 28, Athens.

  • Loring, D. H.: 1990, Marine Chemistry 29, 155–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loring, D. H. and Rantala, R. T. T.: 1992, Earth Sci. Rev. 32, 235–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pano, N.: 1984, Hydrology of Albania, Academic Press of Albania, 435 pp. (in Albanian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair, A. J.: 1981, Applications of Probability Graphs in Mineral Exploration, Vol. 4, Richmond Printers Ltd., 95 pp.

  • UNEP: 1994, 'Monitoring programme of the Eastern Adriatic Coastal Area', MAP Technical Reports Series No. 86, Athens.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Çelo, V., Babi, D., Baraj, B. et al. An Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Sediments Along the Albanian Coast. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 111, 235–250 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005086208998

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005086208998

Navigation