ILIRJANA OSMANI, ARBEN HAZIRI, AFËRDITA CAMAJ, BLEDAR MURTAJ, AUREL NURO
KEYWORDS : Fierza Lake, organic pollutants; water analyzes; GC/ECD/FID.
Abstract
This study presents the levels of some organic pollutants in water and sediments from Fierza Lake. This ecosystem is the largest artificial lake in Albania. It is formed by water flows of White Drin and Black Drin rivers which join together near the Kukes city (Albania territory). Water basin area of this lake lied in huge territory including Kosovo (White Drin River originates near Peja), North Macedonia (Black Drin River originates from Ohrid Lake near Struga) and in Albanian area (East – Northeast). For this reason, Fierza Lake can be affected by urban waste, industrial and agricultural activity. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene isomers) were determined in water samples and sediments of Fierza Lake. Water and sediment samples were taken at the same stations (10 stations in total) in May 2024. The liquid-liquid exctraction technique was used for the isolation of OCPs, PCBs and PAHs from the water samples, while ultrasonic extraction was used for their extraction from the sediment samples. Head space technique were used for isolation of BTEX in water and sediment samples. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic pollutants was performed by using gas chromatography technique, Varian 450 GC, equipped with a μECD and FID detector. Rtx-5 capillary column were used for the separation of organochlorine pollutants and VF- 1ms column for PAH separation. Organic pollutants were found almost in all analyzed samples. Their profile was different between sediment and water samples for the same stations. Their level and profile could be connected with sources of pollution, pollutant properties, new arrivals from rivers (urban waste, agricultural and industrial activities), etc. Analysis of organic pollutants in water and sediment samples of Fierza Lake must be continuous pollutants in water and sediment samples of Fierza Lake must be continuous by authorities because this ecosystem can be affected by many factors.