Journal of Agriculture
and Environmental Sciences

Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals in Water Samples from Vlora Bay, by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)
ValbonaTahiri, Astrit Denaj, Fatjon Musli

Abstract
In this study is presented an evaluation of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni concentration levels in coastal waters ofVlora bay, Albania. Water samples were collected during spring-summer season in seven different sampling stations along three different depth levels: 10cm, 60cm and 120 cm respectively. Water samples were treated according to EPA3015A procedure (Microwave Assisted Acid Digestion of Aqueous Samples and Extracts). The measurements were carried out byOptima 2100™ DV, using ICP-OES technique. By the obtained results it is shown a heterogenicity distribution of heavy metal concentration values. Herein we noticed that Fe concentration level was above the allowed limit. Regarding the correlations, Fe shows: an uphill (positive) linear relationship with Cr, Ni and Mn and a downhill (negative) linear relationship with Cu. Although the coastline of Vlora does not represent a polluted environmental area regarding the concentration levels of heavy metals, it is needed to be monitored continuously since the area is subject to urban, industrial and touristic developments.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jaes.v8n2a5