Arsenic in soil environments in Albania

Abstract

This study summarizes the arsenic (As) concentration in soils in the vicinity of the sulfide mining areas as well as in four Albanian rivers (e.g., Mati, Ishmi, Shkumbini and Semani) sediments to understand the behavior, speciation and mobilization of As in soils and sediment compartments. Arsenic concentration in soils in the mining areas ranged from 50 to 300 mg/kg, whereas in Korca areas (815 ha) where different fruit plants grow, As concentration varied between 4 and 25 mg/kg. Arsenic concentration and its mobilization in river and stream sediments were also investigated. It was noted that sediments collected from the four investigated river sites contained As at 10–68 mg/kg. The mobile forms of As were determined after division into fractions, using appropriate chemical reagent such as 25% acetic acid, for easily exchangeable As or As adsorbed to carbonates. Different analytical techniques such as atomic absorption spectroscopy hydride generation techniques and atomic absorption spectroscopy electro-thermal atomization techniques were also used in our present study.