Distribution of Cadmium in Surface soils in K. Mitrovica Region, Kosovo

Abstract

The results of the study of spatial distribution of cadmium in topsoil (0–5 cm) over the K. Mitrovica region, Kosovo, are reported. The investigated region (300 km2) is covered by a sampling grid of 1.4×1.4 km. In total 159 soil samples from 149 locations were collected. Inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were applied for the determination of cadmium. Data analysis and construction of the map were performed using the Paradox (ver. 9), Statistica (ver. 6.1), AutoDesk Map (ver. 2008) and Surfer (ver. 8.09) software. It was found that the average content of Cd in the topsoil for the entire study area is 3.25 mg/kg (with a range of 0.10–46.8 mg/kg) which exceeds the estimated European Cd average of topsoil by a factor of 27. It is evident that the content of cadmium is very high in the topsoils from the areas of the lead and zinc smelter plant, as well as in the topsoils from the part of the city of K. Mitrovica. In the region of Zvečan and K. Mitrovica several topsoil samples with extremely high content of cadmium are present. The main polluted area was found that covers 5.9 km2 with the average concentration of Cd is 14 mg/kg (from 12 to 47 mg/kg).