Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element Concentrations in Soil And Vegetables and Impact on Human Health Through TF, EDI, and HRI Indicators: Case Study Anadrinia Region (Kosovo).

Vegetable cultivation areas in the Anadrinia region may have higher than background concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from contaminated sources including anthropogenic activity and lithologic composition. The purpose of the present study was to assess PTEs concentrations in soil and vegetables and their impact on human health. In this study, 50 soils and 5 vegetables were sampled from the studied area. PTEs (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) after digestion in microwave system. PTEs in soil and vegetables were assessed and compared to international data (Dutch List and WHO/FAO 2011), and their toxicological risk was estimated using transfer factor (TF), estimated daily intake (EDI), and hazard quotients (HQ). The average values of As, Cd, Co, Fe, and Mn in soil were 44.96, 0.324, 16.34, 13,172, and 765.1 mg/kg, and Cr, Ni, and Pb in vegetables were 21.02, 17.11, and 4.982 mg/kg. TF values were less than 1, suggesting low bioaccumulation. EDI values of Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 6.29, 6.23, 2.09, and 16.6 mg/kg, higher than international guidelines. HQ values of Pb, Ni, and Cu were 6.22, 3.66, and 1.72, higher than maximum tolerable value 1 indicating significant health risk. Some of the analyzed elements in soil and vegetable exceeded permissible limits to Dutch List and WHO/FAO 2011, respectively. From a health point of view, this study revealed vegetable contamination, recommends periodic monitoring.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations with Fractionation Method in Sediments and Waters of the Badovci Lake (Kosovo).

The concentrations of thirteen metals (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) were analyzed in waters and sediments of the Badovci Lake. The total metal concentrations in the water followed the descending order: Fe > Al > Mn > Cu > Ba > Zn > As > Ni > Pb > V > Co > Cd > Cr, and the total metal content in the sediments also followed the descending order: Fe > Al > Mn > Ni > Cr > Pb > Ba > Zn > V > Cu > As > Co > Cd. According to EC 98/83, Al, Fe, and Mn at some sampling sites exceeded safety limits for drinking water, whereas other elements were at acceptable levels. The total content of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and V in the sediments exceeded the target values of the New Dutch List. Using pollution indicators such as the contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo), most of the samples were unpolluted to moderately polluted by Cu, Cr, Pb, V, and Ni. The values of the pollution load index (PLI) were more than one (>1), indicating progressive deterioration of the sediment quality. The enrichment factor (EF) for all the studied metals suggests their enrichments in sediments of the Badovci Lake. Most of the elements were found in the residual fraction strongly bonded to the crystalline component. Pb, Mn, and Cu were bound in the organic and exchangeable components. The extent of pollution by heavy metals in sediments of the Badovci Lake implies that the environmental condition is relatively stable, and attention should be paid to metals bonded in the extractable and organic phases. It is recommended to periodically monitor water and sediment quality.