Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and n-Alkanes in the Tirana River

Aurel Nuro; Bledar Myrtaj; Elvin Como; Albana Hasimi; Gazmir Cela; Ardit Shehi

Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and n-Alkanes in the Tirana River

Abstract

The present study shown the levels, distribution, and seasonal variation of hydrocarbons, including BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes), n-alkanes (C10-C26), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in water samples of Tirana River, Albania. It flows from the Dajti Mountain, in the north of the city of Tirana. This river was a clean before the 90s but after that, with the construction of housing and businesses near the river, it suffered great environmental stress from solid and liquid discharges. Recent years the river is undergoing in a rehabilitation process, but its waters continue to be under the pressure of urban/ anthropogenic pollution. Sampling of water in Tirana River was done at seven monitoring stations, from Tufina to Rinas (in the most urbanized part of the river), at four sampling period (October 2025, December 2025, February 2026, and April 2026). The analysis was performed using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), enabling the quantification of a wide range of hydrocarbon compounds. The results shown significant temporal and spatial variability in pollutant concentrations. Total BTEX concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 0.82 µg/L, with maximum levels during the winter (February 2026), likely due to increased urban runoff and reduced volatilization. Toluene and xylenes were the dominant compounds, indicating strong influence from vehicular emissions and fuel-related activities. Total n-alkane concentrations varied between 0.03 and 1.34 µg/L, with the highest values recorded in December 2025. The predominance of mid-chain hydrocarbons (C16–C20) suggests a mainly petrogenic origin, associated with petroleum/transport inputs. In contrast, PAHs exhibited a progressive increase from autumn to spring, with concentrations ranging from 0.00 to 1.49 µg/L and reaching maximum levels in April 2026. The dominance of high molecular weight PAHs, such as benzo[a]anthracene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, indicates a pyrogenic origin linked to combustion processes. Spatially, higher concentrations of all contaminant groups were consistently observed at downstream and urbanized stations, particularly Laknas and Rinas. The findings show that the Tirana River is significantly impacted by anthropogenic hydrocarbon pollution, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and improved management strategies to protect water quality in urban river systems.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Albanian Academia of Science

Ethical Statement

The author has read, understood, and complied as applicable with the statement on "Ethical responsibilities of Authors" as found in the “Instructions for Authors”.

Thanks

The authors want to thanks Albanian Academy of Science, Tirana, Albania, for their financial support in the frame of project entitled: “Assessment of the hydro-meteorological and environmental situation for water bodies near inhabited areas. Case study: Situation for the Lana River and the Lana River flowing through the city of Lana (SHMELTR)”, and AQSCert Laboratory (private company), Tirana, Albania, for their technical support.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Environmental Assessment and Monitoring

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Aurel Nuro ^*
0000-0003-1875-2430
Albania

Bledar Myrtaj This is me
Albania

Elvin Como This is me
Albania

Albana Hasimi This is me
Albania

Gazmir Cela This is me
Albania

Ardit Shehi
Albania

Publication Date

August 4, 2026

Submission Date

May 13, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 21 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA59GX89UT

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Nuro, A., Myrtaj, B., Como, E., Hasimi, A., Cela, G., & Shehi, A. (2026). Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and n-Alkanes in the Tirana River. Journal of International Environmental Application and Science, 21(2), 82-91. https://izlik.org/JA59GX89UT

AMA

1.Nuro A, Myrtaj B, Como E, Hasimi A, Cela G, Shehi A. Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and n-Alkanes in the Tirana River. J. Int. Environmental Application & Science. 2026;21(2):82-91. https://izlik.org/JA59GX89UT

Chicago

Nuro, Aurel, Bledar Myrtaj, Elvin Como, Albana Hasimi, Gazmir Cela, and Ardit Shehi. 2026. “Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and N-Alkanes in the Tirana River”. Journal of International Environmental Application and Science 21 (2): 82-91. https://izlik.org/JA59GX89UT.

EndNote

Nuro A, Myrtaj B, Como E, Hasimi A, Cela G, Shehi A (August 1, 2026) Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and n-Alkanes in the Tirana River. Journal of International Environmental Application and Science 21 2 82–91.

IEEE

[1]A. Nuro, B. Myrtaj, E. Como, A. Hasimi, G. Cela, and A. Shehi, “Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and n-Alkanes in the Tirana River”, J. Int. Environmental Application & Science, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 82–91, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA59GX89UT

ISNAD

Nuro, Aurel - Myrtaj, Bledar - Como, Elvin - Hasimi, Albana - Cela, Gazmir - Shehi, Ardit. “Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and N-Alkanes in the Tirana River”. Journal of International Environmental Application and Science 21/2 (August 1, 2026): 82-91. https://izlik.org/JA59GX89UT.

JAMA

1.Nuro A, Myrtaj B, Como E, Hasimi A, Cela G, Shehi A. Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and n-Alkanes in the Tirana River. J. Int. Environmental Application & Science. 2026;21:82–91.

MLA

Nuro, Aurel, et al. “Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and N-Alkanes in the Tirana River”. Journal of International Environmental Application and Science, vol. 21, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 82-91, https://izlik.org/JA59GX89UT.

Vancouver

1.Aurel Nuro, Bledar Myrtaj, Elvin Como, Albana Hasimi, Gazmir Cela, Ardit Shehi. Hydrocarbon Pollution in the Urban Rivers: Levels of BTEX, PAHs, and n-Alkanes in the Tirana River. J. Int. Environmental Application & Science [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;21(2):82-91. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA59GX89UT