Distribution of Zinc in Surface Soils in ML Mitrovica Region, Kosovo

摘要

The results of study the spatial distribution of zinc in topsoil (0-5 cm) over the K. Mitrovica region, Kosovo, are reported. The investigated region (300 km~2) 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 (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were applied for the determination of zinc. Data analysis and construction of the map were performed using the Statistica (ver. 9), AutoDesk Map (ver. 2008) and Surfer (ver. 9) software. It was found that the average content of zinc in the topsoil for the entire study area is 520 mg/kg (with a range of 721-11900 mg/kg) which exceeds the estimated European Zn average of topsoil by a factor of 7.6. It is evident that the content of zinc 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 Zvecan and K. Mitrovica several topsoil samples with extremely high content of zinc are present. The main polluted area covers 40 km2 with the average content of zinc 1127 mg/kg (from 721 to 11900 mg/kg).