Assessments of Heavy Metal Contaminants in the Drenica River and Bioremediation by Typha angustifolia

Abstract

The concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and chromium in samples of sediment, water, and Typha angustifolia plants in the stream of the Drenica River were determined to assess the level of pollution. According to sediment analysis results from seven locations, the concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cr exceeded the permitted limits according to WHO standards from 1996. In the plant samples, the concentrations of Cd and Pb were above the allowed limits according to GD161 and ECE standards, and according the WHO standard, the water quality in the Drenica River is classified into the first, second, and third quality categories. The results of this study show the bioaccumulation coefficient in Typha angustifolia plants, and it was found that the most bioaccumulated of the metals is Cd, with a bioaccumulation coefficient (BAF) greater than 1. The pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF index), Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), potential ecological risk factor (Eif), and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used in combination to assess the degree of pollution and the environmental risk presented to the freshwater ecosystem of the Drenica River. The results show that the Drenica River is mainly polluted by Ni, Cu, and Cr, reflecting substantial impacts of anthropogenic activities, including sizeable industrial effects, the development of urbanism, agricultural activities, and the deposition of waste from a ferronickel factory in the area.