Assessment of Major and Trace Elements of Fresh Water Springs in Village Pepaj, Rugova Region, Kosova

Year 2017, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 112 - 120, 30.06.2017

Nushe Lajçi , Milaim Sadiku Xhemë Lajçi Blerim Baruti Sadija Nikshiq

Abstract

Water is essential to health however its purity and
the mineral content are important for consumption by humans. In recent years,
there has been an increasing global public health concern associated with
drinking water contamination by major and trace chemical elements. In mountain
Rugova Region the natural springs are the most important source of water for
dinking and domestic uses. The aim of this study was to assess the major and trace
elements of springs
waters in the village Pepaj, Rugova. Springs waters were analysed for their
major and trace elements in order to assess their water quality. The
concentrations of major and trace elements were determined by Inductively Coupled
Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). All results were compared
with the drinking water standards of the EU (98/83/EC Directive), World Health
Organization and US Environmental Protection Agency. While concentrations of
Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Mo, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Al and Ba were within the permissible limit
values, Na, Co, Se, Sr, Sb, Cd, As, Hg and Pb were not detected in waters of springs.
The highest concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Mo, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Al and Ba were
67.96 mg/l, 1.242 mg/l, 0.912 mg/l, 0.037 mg/l, 0.001 mg/l, 0.192 mg/l, 0.885
mg/l, 0.011 mg/l, 0.032 mg/l, 0.015 mg/l, 0.0239 mg/l and 0.0174 mg/l,
respectively. The findings revealed that there were no public health risk in
view of major and trace elements concentration in waters of springs. 

Keywords

Rugova Mountain Region, spring water, major and trace elements, drinking water quality, (ICP-OES)

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