Concentration of Heavy Metals in Sediment and Water of Përlepnica Lake, Kosovo

Abstract

Gjilan is a city located in southeast Kosovo. The main supplier of drinking water for the city is the Përlepnica Lake where heavy metals in sediment and water, and physicochemical parameters were analysed. Average concentrations of metals in soil sediment were found in the following order: Mn (708.65 mg kg −1 ) > Zn (604.55 mg kg −1 ) > Pb (264.26 mg kg −1 ) > Cr (71.43 mg kg −1 ) > Cu (61.08 mg kg −1 ) > Ni (37.27 mg kg −1 ) > Cd (6.32 mg kg −1 ) > Fe (1.83 mg kg −1 ). Average concentrations of metals in water were found in the following order: Fe (0.295 mg l −1 ) > Zn (0.066 mg l −1 ) > Cu (0.020 mg l −1 ) > Cr (0.035 mg l −1 ) > Cd (0.003 mg l −1 ) > Mn (0.003 mg l −1 ). The concentrations of heavy metals in sediment, such as Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn, were not in accordance with the “New Dutch List” (soil and ground water criteria used in The Netherlands for contaminated land), and the concentration of Fe and Cu in water was not in accordance with EU Directive 75/440.