Livestock Animal Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Heavy Metals Pollution in Central Albania
Trace elements, which may have harmful health effects, are present in the environment at varying concentrations. In Albania, data on exposure risks are limited. This study aimed to assess and compare the concentrations of various trace elements (aluminum, arsenic, boron, calcium, cadmium, chromium,...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Marta Castrica Egon Andoni Alda Quattrone Xhelil Koleci Enkeleda Ozuni Pellumb Zalla Rezart Postoli Laura Menchetti Bengü Bilgiç Duygu Tarhan Ibrahim Ertugrul Yalcin Ilir Dova Nour Elhouda Fehri Mehmet Erman Or Albana Munga Doriana Beqiraj Giulio Curone Stella Agradi |
| author_facet | Marta Castrica Egon Andoni Alda Quattrone Xhelil Koleci Enkeleda Ozuni Pellumb Zalla Rezart Postoli Laura Menchetti Bengü Bilgiç Duygu Tarhan Ibrahim Ertugrul Yalcin Ilir Dova Nour Elhouda Fehri Mehmet Erman Or Albana Munga Doriana Beqiraj Giulio Curone Stella Agradi |
| author_sort | Marta Castrica |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Trace elements, which may have harmful health effects, are present in the environment at varying concentrations. In Albania, data on exposure risks are limited. This study aimed to assess and compare the concentrations of various trace elements (aluminum, arsenic, boron, calcium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc) in the hair of cattle and sheep raised in Central Albania (Tirana and Elbasan Counties). Hair samples were collected from 25 cattle and 25 sheep per county and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. Zinc concentrations were significantly higher in cattle than in sheep (<i>p</i> = 0.029), while no differences were observed between counties (<i>p</i> > 0.05), indicating similar environmental conditions. Copper (17.84, 95%CI: 13.63–16.34 and 15.84, 95%CI: 14.00–17.69 mg/kg in cattle, and 15.58, 95%CI: 13.61–17.56 and 14.14, 95%CI: 12.07–16.20 mg/kg in sheep, in Elbasan and Tirana County, respectively), arsenic (2.08, 95%CI: 1.45–1.21 and 1.51, 95%CI: 1.19–1.81 mg/kg in cattle, 1.73, 95%CI: 1.38–2.07 and 1.39, 95%CI: 1.02–1.75 mg/kg in sheep, in Elbasan and Tirana County, respectively), and cadmium (2.36, 95%CI: 1.63–2.07 and 2.00, 95%CI: 1.68–2.32 mg/kg in cattle, 2.00, 95%CI: 1.59–2.40 and 1.71, 95%CI: 1.39–2.02 mg/kg in sheep, in Elbasan and Tirana County, respectively) concentrations exceeded the values reported in the literature, likely due to contamination from local mining and metal processing activities. Further research is needed to determine the sources of contamination and assess potential risks to animal and human health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2029ed7878441518476e6d23b84947d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e2029ed7878441518476e6d23b84947d2025-08-20T03:16:46ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011513189810.3390/ani15131898Livestock Animal Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Heavy Metals Pollution in Central AlbaniaMarta Castrica0Egon Andoni1Alda Quattrone2Xhelil Koleci3Enkeleda Ozuni4Pellumb Zalla5Rezart Postoli6Laura Menchetti7Bengü Bilgiç8Duygu Tarhan9Ibrahim Ertugrul Yalcin10Ilir Dova11Nour Elhouda Fehri12Mehmet Erman Or13Albana Munga14Doriana Beqiraj15Giulio Curone16Stella Agradi17Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Rr Pajsi Vodica, Koder-Kamez, 1029 Tirane, AlbaniaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Rr Pajsi Vodica, Koder-Kamez, 1029 Tirane, AlbaniaDepartment of Public Health, Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Rr Pajsi Vodica, Koder-Kamez, 1029 Tirane, AlbaniaDepartment of Public Health, Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Rr Pajsi Vodica, Koder-Kamez, 1029 Tirane, AlbaniaDepartment of Public Health, Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Rr Pajsi Vodica, Koder-Kamez, 1029 Tirane, AlbaniaSchool of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, 62024 Matelica, ItalyDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul 34320, TürkiyeDepartment of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul 34734, TürkiyeDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul 34353, TürkiyeDepartment of Public Health, Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Rr Pajsi Vodica, Koder-Kamez, 1029 Tirane, AlbaniaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul 34320, TürkiyeDepartment of Public Health, Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Rr Pajsi Vodica, Koder-Kamez, 1029 Tirane, AlbaniaDepartment of Public Health, Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Rr Pajsi Vodica, Koder-Kamez, 1029 Tirane, AlbaniaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyTrace elements, which may have harmful health effects, are present in the environment at varying concentrations. In Albania, data on exposure risks are limited. This study aimed to assess and compare the concentrations of various trace elements (aluminum, arsenic, boron, calcium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc) in the hair of cattle and sheep raised in Central Albania (Tirana and Elbasan Counties). Hair samples were collected from 25 cattle and 25 sheep per county and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. Zinc concentrations were significantly higher in cattle than in sheep (<i>p</i> = 0.029), while no differences were observed between counties (<i>p</i> > 0.05), indicating similar environmental conditions. Copper (17.84, 95%CI: 13.63–16.34 and 15.84, 95%CI: 14.00–17.69 mg/kg in cattle, and 15.58, 95%CI: 13.61–17.56 and 14.14, 95%CI: 12.07–16.20 mg/kg in sheep, in Elbasan and Tirana County, respectively), arsenic (2.08, 95%CI: 1.45–1.21 and 1.51, 95%CI: 1.19–1.81 mg/kg in cattle, 1.73, 95%CI: 1.38–2.07 and 1.39, 95%CI: 1.02–1.75 mg/kg in sheep, in Elbasan and Tirana County, respectively), and cadmium (2.36, 95%CI: 1.63–2.07 and 2.00, 95%CI: 1.68–2.32 mg/kg in cattle, 2.00, 95%CI: 1.59–2.40 and 1.71, 95%CI: 1.39–2.02 mg/kg in sheep, in Elbasan and Tirana County, respectively) concentrations exceeded the values reported in the literature, likely due to contamination from local mining and metal processing activities. Further research is needed to determine the sources of contamination and assess potential risks to animal and human health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1898hairenvironmentsurveyAlbaniabioindicator |
| spellingShingle | Marta Castrica Egon Andoni Alda Quattrone Xhelil Koleci Enkeleda Ozuni Pellumb Zalla Rezart Postoli Laura Menchetti Bengü Bilgiç Duygu Tarhan Ibrahim Ertugrul Yalcin Ilir Dova Nour Elhouda Fehri Mehmet Erman Or Albana Munga Doriana Beqiraj Giulio Curone Stella Agradi Livestock Animal Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Heavy Metals Pollution in Central Albania Animals hair environment survey Albania bioindicator |
| title | Livestock Animal Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Heavy Metals Pollution in Central Albania |
| title_full | Livestock Animal Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Heavy Metals Pollution in Central Albania |
| title_fullStr | Livestock Animal Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Heavy Metals Pollution in Central Albania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Livestock Animal Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Heavy Metals Pollution in Central Albania |
| title_short | Livestock Animal Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Heavy Metals Pollution in Central Albania |
| title_sort | livestock animal hair as an indicator of environmental heavy metals pollution in central albania |
| topic | hair environment survey Albania bioindicator |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1898 |
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