Published 2023-09-14
Keywords
- Vlora Bay,
- heavy metals,
- pollution,
- sediment,
- human health
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2023 Top Academic Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Vlora coastal environment is often contaminated by heavy metals from port and traffic infrastructure, industrial areas, urban settlements, and tourism activities. Heavy metals are persistent pollutants that can bioaccumulate in the food chain and pose a threat to human health. This study investigated the levels of heavy metals in the water and sediment of Vlora Bay. Samples were collected from six different sites in the bay and analyzed for the following heavy metals: Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Hg. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals in the water and sediment were generally higher than the background levels. The highest concentrations were found in the sediment, which is likely due to the deposition of contaminated sediments from the surrounding land. The results of this study suggest that the Vlora coastal environment is heavily polluted with heavy metals. This pollution is a threat to the health of the marine ecosystem and human health. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of this pollution on the environment and human health
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