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3462260 
Journal Article 
DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS BY ICP-AES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SOILS SURROUNDING KOSOVO'S POWER PLANTS 
Jusufi, K; Stafilov, T; Vasjari, M; Korca, B; Halili, J; Berisha, A 
2016 
1 
Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
ISSN: 1018-4619
EISSN: 1610-2304 
25 
5 
1313-1321 
WOS:000378967600003 
The area neighboring the power plants in Kosovo in the town of Kastriot, near the capital city of Prishtina, is exposed to contaminants of air, water and soil. The power plants are a major source of heavy metals pollution in the environment, including the agricultural soils used for crops. The aim of this study is to determine the level of contamination with heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, As, Cr, Ni, V) in the agricultural soils around Kastriot's power plants. In order to assess possible impact of contamination, the content of 21 elements were analyzed in 30 soil samples collected from evenly distributed locations over the power plant area and some samples collected from the contaminant-free area at a distance of 40 km from contamination zone, for comparison purposes. The presence of heavy metals in the collected samples was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The obtained results for heavy metals were compared with the target and intervention levels of these elements in soil from the Dutch list.



The results show that the content of some heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Cu) in the area close to the power plants is very high and often exceeds the target and even the intervention limits. The contents of Cr, Ni, and V showed high levels in the vast majority of the cases. 
soil; heavy metals; contamination; power plants; ICP-AES