Assessments of Heavy Metal Contaminants in the Drenica River and Bioremediation by <i>Typha angustifolia</i>
Osman Fetoshi,
Romina Koto,
Fatbardh Sallaku,
Hazir Çadraku,
Smajl Rizani,
Pajtim Bytyçi,
Demokrat Nuha,
Bojan Đurin,
Berat Durmishi,
Veton Haziri,
Fidan Feka,
Shkendije Sefa Haziri,
Upaka Rathnayake,
Dragana Dogančić
Affiliations
Osman Fetoshi
Food Science and Biotechnology, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Romina Koto
Department of Environment and Natural Recourses, Faculty Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Str. Pajsi Vodica, Koder Kamez, 1029 Tirana, Albania
Fatbardh Sallaku
Department of Environment and Natural Recourses, Faculty Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Str. Pajsi Vodica, Koder Kamez, 1029 Tirana, Albania
Hazir Çadraku
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Infrastructure, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Smajl Rizani
Food Science and Biotechnology, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Pajtim Bytyçi
Food Science and Biotechnology, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Demokrat Nuha
Food Science and Biotechnology, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Bojan Đurin
Department of Civil Engineering, University North, 48000 Koprivnica, Croatia
Berat Durmishi
Food Science and Biotechnology, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Veton Haziri
Food Science and Biotechnology, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Fidan Feka
Food Science and Biotechnology, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Shkendije Sefa Haziri
Food Science and Biotechnology, University for Business and Technology, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi No. 56, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Upaka Rathnayake
Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland
Dragana Dogančić
Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Zagreb, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia
The concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and chromium in samples of sediment, water, and Typha angustifolia plants in the stream of the Drenica River were determined to assess the level of pollution. According to sediment analysis results from seven locations, the concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cr exceeded the permitted limits according to WHO standards from 1996. In the plant samples, the concentrations of Cd and Pb were above the allowed limits according to GD161 and ECE standards, and according the WHO standard, the water quality in the Drenica River is classified into the first, second, and third quality categories. The results of this study show the bioaccumulation coefficient in Typha angustifolia plants, and it was found that the most bioaccumulated of the metals is Cd, with a bioaccumulation coefficient (BAF) greater than 1. The pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF index), Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), potential ecological risk factor (Eif), and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used in combination to assess the degree of pollution and the environmental risk presented to the freshwater ecosystem of the Drenica River. The results show that the Drenica River is mainly polluted by Ni, Cu, and Cr, reflecting substantial impacts of anthropogenic activities, including sizeable industrial effects, the development of urbanism, agricultural activities, and the deposition of waste from a ferronickel factory in the area.
